Impact of Ocular Compression on Ocular Surface Bacterial Contamination

Background: To study the impact of preoperative ocular compression on bacterial contamination of the lid margin and conjunctival sac. Methods: This study evaluated 106 eyes from 106 patients undergoing cataract surgery. Preoperatively, all of the patients received one drop of 0.5% levofloxacin eye drops 5 times per day for 4 days. The patients were divided into 2 groups after receiving retrobulbar anaesthesia. The study group (75 eyes) received 15 ± 2 minutes of ocular compression, and the control group (31 eyes) remained with their eyes closed for 15 ± 2 minutes without the application of ocular compression or digital massage. Following the device removal (study group only) and the opening of the eyes, bacterial cultures were taken from the lid margin and conjunctival sac. Results: The lid margin was positive for bacteria in 23 eyes (30.7%) in the study group vs. 3 eyes (9.7%) in the control group (P = 0.0223), and the conjunctival sac was positive for bacteria in 16 eyes (21.3%) in the study group vs. 5 eyes (16.1%) in the control group (P = 0.5409). Conclusion: Preoperative ocular compression is associated with the release of meibomian gland secretions and bacterial contamination of the eyelid edges.