Suture Contamination Rate in Adjustable Suture Strabismus Surgery

Patients will be randomized into 1 of 2 groups: those who received 1 drop of 5% povidone-iodine instilled directly over the sliding noose at surgery completion (group 1) and those who did not receive povidone-iodine at the end of the surgery (group 2).

Institutional standard surgical preparation will be performed in all patients with 5% povidone-iodine solution on the periocular skin and eyelid margins, followed by instillation of 1 drop of 5% povidone-iodine into the conjunctival cul-de-sac.

All operations will be performed using a sliding noose technique with a polyglactin 6-0 suture (Vicryl, Ethicon Inc). If a patient undergoes surgery on more than 1 muscle in the same eye, a 1-cm section of suture proximal to the knot will be collected from the nonadjustable suture as a control. The control suture will be placed in a tube with 2 mL of trypticase soy broth and agitated for 1 minute. At the end of surgery, patients in group 1 will receive a drop of povidone-iodine. A strip of neomycin sulfate, polymyxin B sulfate, and dexamethasone ophthalmic ointment will be then applied into the lower conjunctival fornix to patients in both groups.

Inclusion criteria

• All strabismus patients age ≥ 18 years scheduled for strabismus surgery with adjustable sutures at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute will be invited to participate.

Exclusion criteria

• Patient who has a history of allergy to povidone-iodine.
• Disorders affecting immune function.
• Patient who is unwilling to participate in the study