Polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine as a disinfectant in eye surgery for five years

Polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine is a broad spectrum disinfectant which has been used in surgery for several years. The prophylactic effect of PVP-iodine against panophthalmia was examined in a study including all cataract operated eyes (4111 eyes) from autumn 1981 to the end of 1986. The patients were randomly split up into two groups. Group 1 received PVP-iodine eye-drops as a pre-operative disinfectant, the control group received 2.5% iodine on the skin only. Thirty-two cases of panophthalmia arose, 0.8% in group 1 (21 out of 2550 eyes) treated with PVP-iodine, and 0.7% in the control group (11 out of 1561 eyes).