Background and objective: To determine whether the use of lidocaine gel before application of povidone-iodine affects endophthalmitis rates following intravitreal injections.
Patients and methods: Retrospective consecutive case series of all intravitreal injections and post-intravitreal injection endophthalmitis cases at one institution from 2000 to 2009. A review of medical records of post-intravitreal injection endophthalmitis cases was performed to determine whether lidocaine gel was applied prior to povidone-iodine antisepsis and to analyze the clinical course and outcomes.
Results: A total of 8,802 intravitreal injections were administered during the study period. When no lidocaine gel was used prior to povidone-iodine antisepsis, four cases of endophthalmitis following 4,120 intravitreal injections (0.097%) were recorded. When 2% lidocaine gel was applied before povidone-iodine, four cases of endophthalmitis following 4,682 intravitreal injections (0.085%) were observed (P = 1.00, odds ratio = 1.12).
Conclusion: The use of lidocaine gel prior to povidone-iodine antisepsis did not significantly alter post-intravitreal injection endophthalmitis rates.
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