Open AccessPreoperative antisepsis in ophthalmic surgery (a review)
Author(s) -
Alexandra-Cătălina Zaharia,
Otilia-Maria Dumitrescu,
Roxana-Elena Rogoz,
Andreea Elena Dimirache,
M Zemba
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
romanian journal of ophtalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2501-2533
pISSN - 2457-4325
DOI - 10.22336/rjo.2021.25
Subject(s) - ophthalmic surgery , medicine , surgery , general surgery
Endophthalmitis remains a serious complication following intraocular procedures. Preoperative prophylactic measures for endophthalmitis decrease the morbidity associated with this disease and represent a standard of care prior to ophthalmic surgery. The literature supports as measures for ocular antisepsis: povidone-iodine solution for ocular surface preparation, chlorhexidine in patients with iodine allergy and application of topical antibiotics. Povidone-iodine is regarded as the most effective antiseptic associated with significant reduction in ocular surface bacterial counts. Currently, the recommended preoperative management is the application of 5% povidone-iodine solution in the conjunctival fornix, prior to surgery. This paper reviews the preoperative measures for ocular antisepsis, used in order to decrease the risk of culture-proven endophthalmitis.