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Lower conjunctival fornix packing for mydriasis in premature infants: a randomized trial

Authors Thanathanee, Ratanapakorn, Morley , Yospaiboon Y 

Received 30 November 2011

Accepted for publication 20 December 2011

Published 15 February 2012 Volume 2012:6 Pages 253—256

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S28714

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 2



Onsiri Thanathanee1, Tanapat Ratanapakorn1, Michael G Morley2, Yosanan Yospaiboon1

1Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand; 2Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

Objective: To compare the mydriatic effect of lower conjunctival fornix packing to conventional instillation of eyedrops containing 2.5% phenylephrine and 1% tropicamide in premature infants undergoing examination for retinopathy of prematurity.
Methods: The patients were randomized to receive either conventional instillation of mydriatic drops or lower conjunctival fornix packing in one eye and the alternate method in the fellow eye. For the eyes receiving lower conjunctival fornix packing (study group), one small piece of the cotton wool soaked with one drop of 2.5% phenylephrine and one drop of 1% tropicamide was packed in the lower conjunctival fornix for 15 minutes. For the eyes receiving the conventional instillation (control group), 2.5% phenylephrine and 1% tropicamide were alternately instilled every 5 minutes for two doses each. Horizontal pupil diameter was measured with a ruler in millimeters 40 minutes later.
Results: The mean dilated pupil diameter in study group and control group were 5.76 ± 1.01 mm and 4.50 ± 1.08 mm, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The dilated pupil diameter after receiving the lower conjunctival fornix packing was larger than conventional instillation with a statistically significant difference. We recommended the packing method to dilate the preterm infant pupil, especially if the pupil is difficult to dilate.

Keywords: conjunctival fornix packing, phenylephrine, mydriasis, premature infants

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