Povidone-iodine reduces contamination rate

Article

A recent prospective study has shown that the repetitive irrigation of povidone-iodine of 0.25% significantly lowered bacterial contamination rate in the anterior chamber after cataract surgery.

A recent prospective study has shown that the repetitive irrigation of povidone-iodine of 0.25% significantly lowered bacterial contamination rate in the anterior chamber after cataract surgery.

Dr Hiroyuki Shimada and Dr Takayuki Hattori, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan, investigated the use of povidone-iodine to reduce bacteria in patients with cataracts.

The investigation involved 404 consecutive eyes - 202 eyes were filled with infusion liquid (group A) and 202 eyes were treated using povidone-iodine of 0.25%. The fluids from the anterior chamber were collected at the start and end of surgery to measure the iodide ion concentration. Bacteriologic culture was carried out using the ocular surface fluid after lid speculum placement, and anterior chamber fluid after surgery. The measurement of corneal endothelial cell density was conducted before and after surgery, using a specular microscope.

The rate of bacterial detection in ocular surface liquid demonstrated a small difference between groups A (5.5%) and B (6.0%). However, the reduction rate in anterior chamber fluid was significantly greater in group B.

To conclude, the repetitive irrigation of the anterior chamber lowered bacterial contamination to a great extent after cataract surgery.

Newsletter

Join ophthalmologists across Europe—sign up for exclusive updates and innovations in surgical techniques and clinical care.

Recent Videos
Christine Curcio, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, shares histology update and revised nomenclature for OCT with Sheryl Stevenson of the Eye Care Network and Ophthalmology Times
SriniVas R. Sadda, MD, FARVO, shares key points from his retina presentation at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium
Robert Sergott, MD, describes fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO) and the International SPECTRALIS Symposium – And Beyond (ISS) in Heidelberg, Germany.
Rayaz Malik, MBChB, PhD, a professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar, spoke with Ophthalmology Times Europe about his presentation. It's titled "An eye on neurodegenerative diseases: Challenging the dogma" at the International SPECTRALIS Sympsoium. In conversation with Hattie Hayes, Ophthalmology Times Europe
Anat Loewenstein, MD, describes her presentation on remote imaging for age-related macular degeneration and geographic atrophy at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium, in conversation with Hattie Hayes of Ophthalmology Times Europe
Tyson Brunstetter, OD, PhD, a US Navy Aerospace Optometrist at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, shares key takeaways from his keynote at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium (ISS)
Rayaz Malik, MBChB, PhD, shares his presentation, titled An eye on neurodegenerative diseases: Challenging the dogma, at this year's International SPECTRALIS Symposium
At the Retina World Congress, Siegfried Priglinger, MD, speaks about ensuring the best outcomes for preschool-aged patients
At the 2025 ASCRS meeting, Robert Ang, MD said small aperture IOLs can benefit all patients, especially those with complex corneas or who have undergone previous corneal refractive surgery
Viha Vig, MBChB graduate student at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, discusses her poster presentation on the relationship between mitochondiral disease, Alzheimer disease, and other types of dementia.
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.