TITLE:
Povidone-Iodine Is Used to Cover the Cornea with a Viscoelastic Agent before Disinfection to Prevent Diabetic Cataracts in Patients with Diabetes Postoperative Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Injuries
AUTHORS:
Wenjing Cai, Zhiqin Wu
KEYWORDS:
Diabetic Cataract, Dry Eye, Povidone-Iodine, Viscoelastic Agent
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ophthalmology,
Vol.15 No.4,
November
13,
2025
ABSTRACT: Objective: To investigate the protective effect of povidone-iodine (PVP-I) on postoperative dry eye and ocular surface injury in patients with diabetic cataract by using a viscoelastic agent to cover the cornea before irrigation of the conjunctival sac. Methods: Prospective case-control study. The subjects of the study were patients diagnosed with diabetic cataract at Jingzhou Central Hospital from March 2023 to October 2023, and were divided into two groups according to admission time: 21 cases (21 eyes) in the experimental group and 22 cases (22 eyes) in the control group. The conjunctival sac was routinely flushed with PVP-I. The bacterial culture of the conjunctival sac before and after surgery, tear film break-up time (BUT), tear secretion test, corneal fluorescein staining score, and self-conscious symptom score were observed 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month before surgery. Results: There was no significant difference in the rate of conjunctival cyst carriers between the two groups before and after irrigation (P > 0.05). The self-perceived symptom scores of the experimental group were lower than those of the control group at 1 week and 1 month after operation, and the difference was statistically significant (P 0.05). The difference was statistically significant (P Conclusion: The use of a viscoelastic agent to cover the cornea of patients with diabetic cataract before povidone-iodine disinfection did not affect the effect of povidone-iodine disinfection and could promote the recovery of ocular surface function. However, it has little effect on tear production.