AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of 0.01% hypochlorous acid as a conjunctival sac disinfectant before cataract phacoemulsification and its impact on the ocular surface.

METHODS: Randomized controlled clinical trial. A total of 285 patients who were scheduled for cataract phacoemulsification surgery were randomly divided into the hypochlorous acid group and the povidone iodine group. Before and after disinfection, conjunctival sac swabs were taken, and bacterial culture and colony-forming units(CFUs)testing were performed using blood agar and chocolate agar media, respectively. All patients were evaluated for ocular symptom scores and pain severity scores 2 h, 1 d, and 1 wk after disinfection, and underwent corneal fluorescein staining, eye redness index, tear meniscus height, and noninvasive breakup time(NIBUT)examination. The incidence of endophthalmitis after surgery was recorded.

RESULTS: Conjunctival sac disinfection with 0.01% hypochlorous acid significantly reduced the rate of positive bacterial cultures and colony-forming ability of the conjunctival sac, with statistically significant differences compared with the pre-disinfection period(both P<0.01), and the disinfecting ability of hypochlorous acid was comparable to that of povidone-iodine(χ²=0.811, P=0.368). The scores of ocular symptoms and pain severity in the hypochlorous acid group were significantly lower than those in the povidone-iodine group(both P<0.01). The corneal fluorescein staining and eye redness index in the hypochlorous acid group were significantly lower than those in the povidone-iodine group(all P<0.01). No endophthalmitis occurred in either group of patients.

CONCLUSION: As a conjunctival sac disinfectant, 0.01% hypochlorous acid is safe and effective, with minimal discomfort and damage to the ocular surface in patients.