Advanced air filters in operation theatres offer no extra benefit towards infection prevention in cataract surgeries: study
The study was conducted by Aravind Eye Care System, analysing outcome of over 4.5 lakh cataract surgeries in its network of 14 regional hospitals in South India
A study conducted at the Aravind Eye Care System in southern India has found that advanced air filters in operating theatres do not provide any additional benefit in preventing infection during cataract surgeries. The research, published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, analyzed over 452,000 cataract surgeries performed at the system's 14 hospitals in 2023.
Despite the use of varying air-handling units, including laminar air flow with HEPA filters, central air conditioning with HEPA filters, and central air conditioning without HEPA filters, the overall postoperative endophthalmitis rate remained extremely low at 0.016%. The study concluded that safe cataract surgery can be achieved without expensive air handling systems, as long as strict aseptic protocols are followed.
This finding contradicts the notion of mandating costly air handling unit systems for ophthalmic surgeries, particularly in resource-limited settings and office-based surgeries in high-income countries.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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