Background: Postoperative endophthalmitis is a serious complication of cataract surgery, often caused by the patient's ocular surface flora. Effective preoperative disinfection is critical in minimizing this risk. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of 5% povidone-iodine in reducing microbial flora on the eyelid and conjunctiva in cataract surgery patients. Methods: A prospective study involving 30 cataract surgery patients was conducted. Swabs were collected from the upper eyelid margin and conjunctiva before and after a one-minute application of 5% povidone-iodine. Microbial analysis was performed using gram staining, KOH mount, and culture methods. The primary outcome measure was the reduction in microbial flora, analyzed using paired t-tests with a significance level of P <0.05. Results: The mean pre-treatment microbial count was 100.87 (SD = 30.41), which significantly decreased to 48.00 (SD = 31.50) post-treatment ( P <0.001). The study demonstrated a significant reduction in microbial load following povidone-iodine application, with a mean difference of 52.87. Additionally, 10% of patients reported an iodine allergy, and 13.3% had pre-existing lid pathology. Conclusion: The study confirmed that 5% povidone-iodine is an effective preoperative disinfectant for cataract surgery, significantly reducing microbial flora on the ocular surface. Its use may reduce the risk of postoperative endophthalmitis, supporting its role in standard preoperative protocols.
Walsinge et al. (Thu,) studied this question.