Antimicrobial Effect of Ultraviolet C (UV-C) Light Compared to Standard Povidone-Iodine Protocol for Preoperative Disinfection of the Periocular Area.

UV-C light with baby shampoo equals PI solution for periocular disinfection without irritation complications.

This study evaluated UV-C light (275 nm wavelength) as an alternative to povidone-iodine (PI) for preoperative periocular disinfection in canine eyes. Six research-bred beagles had their upper and lower eyelids divided into medial and lateral sections, each receiving one of four treatments: saline, baby shampoo alone, baby shampoo with PI solution, or baby shampoo with UV-C light. Bacterial samples were collected 30 minutes post-treatment via culture swabs. Results demonstrated that saline-treated eyelids had significantly higher bacterial counts compared to both UV-C and PI treatments, particularly in the upper medial eyelid location. Other eyelid locations showed no statistically significant differences between groups. One dog developed contact dermatitis following PI treatment, while no adverse effects occurred with UV-C exposure. The findings suggest UV-C light combined with baby shampoo provides antimicrobial efficacy comparable to the standard PI protocol for periocular preparation, with the added advantage of avoiding chemical irritation complications.

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