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Clinical Impact of a Novel Light-Transmitting Ocular Dressing in Children After Bilateral Strabismus Surgery: A
Wei Song1, Ying Sha1, Hang Yin1
1Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Science Key Lab, Capital Medical University, 100730 Beijing, China.
Insights
A new light-transmitting ocular dressing significantly improved comfort and reduced crying in children after strabismus surgery. This innovative dressing also lowered caregiver burden and unplanned dressing changes, offering a non-pharmacological approach to managing postoperative stress.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Patient Experience
Background:
- Nontransparent eye patches after strabismus surgery limit visual input, causing distress in children.
- This can lead to crying, early removal of dressings, and increased caregiver burden.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a novel light-transmitting ocular dressing for improving postoperative experience in children undergoing bilateral strabismus surgery.
- To assess the impact of this dressing on child comfort, crying, and caregiver burden.
Main Methods:
- A prospective quasi-experimental study involving 120 children (3-14 years) undergoing bilateral strabismus surgery.
- Participants were assigned to either a light-transmitting or conventional nontransparent dressing group.
- Outcomes measured included comfort (VAS), crying, caregiver burden (Zarit), and unplanned dressing changes.
Main Results:
- Children with light-transmitting dressings reported significantly better comfort (VAS 1.57 vs 3.58) and cooperation (76.67% vs 33.33%).
- Caregiver burden scores were significantly lower (30.30 vs 36.51), and unplanned dressing changes reduced (3.33% vs 18.33%).
- Dressing type remained an independent predictor for comfort and caregiver burden after covariate adjustment.
Conclusions:
- The light-transmitting ocular dressing effectively enhances comfort and reduces distress post-strabismus surgery in children.
- It alleviates caregiver burden and minimizes unplanned dressing changes, serving as a valuable non-pharmacological intervention.
- This innovative dressing warrants wider clinical adoption for managing pediatric postoperative psychological stress.
Aim:
Nontransparent ocular dressings used after bilateral strabismus surgery deprive children of visual input, often provoking crying, causing premature dressing removal, and increasing caregiver burden. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a self-developed, novel light-transmitting ocular dressing in improving postoperative experience and alleviating caregiver burden.
Methods:
This prospective quasi-experimental study enrolled 120 children (3-14 years) who underwent bilateral strabismus surgery from August to December 2024. Participants were alternately assigned according to admission week to either a light-transmitting dressing group (n = 60) or a conventional nontransparent dressing group (n = 60). Outcomes included postoperative comfort (visual analogue scale [VAS]), crying/agitation level, caregiver burden (Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview), and unplanned dressing-change rate. Multivariate linear regression was used to evaluate the independent effect of dressing type after adjustment for demographic and surgical covariates.
Results:
Compared with those in the nontransparent group, children in the light-transmitting group reported significantly better postoperative comfort (VAS: 1.57 ± 0.81 vs 3.58 ± 1.34, p < 0.001) and were more likely to remain calm and cooperative (76.67% vs 33.33%). Caregiver burden scores were significantly lower (30.30 ± 3.12 vs 36.51 ± 4.20, p < 0.001), and the unplanned dressing-change rate was reduced (3.33% vs 18.33%, p < 0.01). After adjustment for demographic and surgical variables (procedure type, number of muscles operated, and operative duration), dressing type remained an independent predictor of comfort (β = -2.04, p < 0.001) and caregiver burden (β = -6.36, p < 0.001). Caregiver education level was balanced between groups and was an independent predictor of caregiver burden (β = -0.80, p = 0.03).
Conclusions:
The light-transmitting ocular dressing effectively improves comfort after bilateral strabismus surgery in children, reduces crying/agitation and caregiver burden, and lowers the need for unplanned dressing changes. By preserving postoperative visual input, this design offers an effective nonpharmacological strategy to mitigate postoperative psychological stress in children and warrants broader clinical adoption.
Clinical Trial Registration:
China Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2600117638).
