The effect of ocular rinse volume on surface irritation after povidone-iodine preparation for intravitreal injections: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To evaluate whether the volume of wash out rinse after povidone iodine (PI) application for intravitreal injections (IVI) affects patients’ ocular surface irritation. Methods This was a prospective, single-masked, randomized-controlled trial consisting of 142 subjects. A total of 51, 45, and 46 patients received 3-mL, 10-mL, and 15-mL of ocular rinse respectively. Reductions in the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and the Standardized Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness II (SPEED II) surveys, conducted before and at 24–72 h post-injection, were analyzed. Results There was no statistical difference in objective dry eye findings of Schirmer test (p-value = 0.788), tear break-up time (p-value = 0.403), Oxford fluorescein grade (p-value = 0.424) between the study groups prior to injections. Dry eye symptoms as measured by reductions in the OSDI and SPEEDII scores were not different between the study groups (p-value = 0.0690 and 0.6227, respectively). Conclusion There is no difference in patients’ ocular surface irritation between 3-mL, 10-mL, and 15-mL post injection rinse. Given the large number of IVIs performed, modification of practice patterns based on these findings could lead to significant reduction in global cost burden for IVIs.