Safety of ozonated solution as an antiseptic of the ocular surface prior to ophthalmic surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety of an ozonated solution as an antiseptic of the ocular surface prior to ophthalmic surgery.


METHODS
In experiment 1, a primary culture of rabbit corneal epithelium was established. Then, 0, 4 and 10 ppm ozonated solution and 1.25% povidone-iodine, respectively, were applied to confluent cells on collagen-coated filter inserts (Millicell-CM) for 10 min followed by replacement with fresh medium. The transepithelial electrical resistance (TER), which is a good indicator of cell barrier function, was sequentially measured for 30 min. In experiment 2, adult pigmented rabbit eyes were washed with 20 ml of 4 ppm ozonated solution, 1.25% povidone-iodine solution or saline. Slitlamp examinations were performed before and after washing.


RESULTS
In experiment 1, 4 ppm ozonated solution did not change the TER as compared with the control. 10 ppm ozonated solution and 1.25% povidone-iodine similarly reduced the TER values significantly as compared with those of the control and 4 ppm ozonated solution. In experiment 2, 4 ppm ozonated solution and saline showed mild superficial punctate keratitis (SPK) in 8.3% of eyes. However, 1.25% povidone-iodine resulted in mild SPK in 17% of eyes and moderate SPK in 25% of eyes. The prevalence of SPK between two groups was significantly different (p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Ozonated solution may be safe and a useful antiseptic of the ocular surface prior to ophthalmic surgery.
Kashiwagi
K
K
Department of Ophthalmology, Yamanashi Medical University, Yamanashi, Japan. kenjik@res.yamanashi-med.ac.jp
Saito
K
K
Wang
Y D
YD
Takahashi
H
H
Ishijima
K
K
Tsukahara
S
S
D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D017097:Electric Impedance; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D015817:Eye Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010126:Ozone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D012449:Safety
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010126:Ozone; D011206:Povidone-Iodine