Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial activity of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-iodine versus topical antibiotics in cataract surgery.

Comparative evaluation of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-iodine versus topical broad-spectrum antibiotics for disinfecting the eye and surrounding area to prevent postoperative complications was carried out on 100 patients. PVP-iodine proved superior antiseptic for pre-operative preparation of eyes before cataract surgery. It was cheaper, caused minimal side-effects, reduced bacterial counts to a great extent and eliminated fungi completely.