Premium
Pupil dilation using a pledget sponge: a randomized controlled trial
Author(s) -
McCormick Austin,
Srinivasan Sathish,
Harun Shabbir,
Watts Mark
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
clinical and experimental ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.3
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1442-9071
pISSN - 1442-6404
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-9071.2006.01272.x
Subject(s) - medicine , mydriatics , mydriasis , tropicamide , pupil , ophthalmology , randomized controlled trial , significant difference , phacoemulsification , surgery , visual acuity , neuroscience , biology
A bstract Background: To show that a pledget soaked in mydriatics and placed in the lower conjunctival fornix is as effective as drops in providing mydriasis for cataract surgery. Methods: A randomized, masked, controlled trial of 56 patients assigned to either a pledget group ( n = 25) or a control eye drops group ( n = 31) was carried out. Controls had the routine practice of repeated topical mydriatic drops: tropicamide, phenylepherine and atropine. The trial group had a 3‐mm pledget trimmed, soaked in mydriatics and placed in the inferior fornix for 20 min. Pupil diameter was measured using a photographic technique with a standard scale shown in each picture. Two masked observers measured the pupils using the scale of the ruler in the developed photograph. All patients completed a 0–10 stinging score prior to surgery. Results: There were no complications. The mean pupil diameter in the control group was 7.23 (6.91–7.94 95% confidence intervals [CI]) and 7.44 (6.96–7.92 95% CI) in the pledget group. There was no statistically significant difference in pupil diameter between the two groups: difference between means 0.21 (−0.32 to 0.75 95% CI) and Student’s t ‐test of the difference between means ( t = 0.8 and two‐tailed) probability P = 0.43. There was no significant difference in the stinging scores: Mann–Whitney test P = 0.69. Conclusion: The use of a pledget cellulose sponge to deliver mydriatics prior to cataract surgery is as effective as the conventional method of repeated drop administration and was not associated with any adverse effects.