The Antibiotic Effect of BAC-STAT LASIK Ring in LASIK

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: An attempt was made to determine if the pre-LASIK operative BAC-STAT LASIK Ring plays a role in reducing postoperative infection. METHODS: Candidates for this study were 72 eyes of 36 patients, scheduled to undergo LASIK operation. Eyes were divided into two groups right eyes with preoperative BAC-STAT bacteriostatic LASIK Ring (BAC-STAT LASIK Ring American Optisurgical Inc., Lake Forest, California, U.S.A.) and one minute of irrigation (experimental group), and left eyes with only preoperative BSS irrigation (control group). The authors tried to demonstrate a difference of identified pathogens between the two groups after a growth of bulboconjunctival lesion in blood agar plate (BAP), MacConkey agar plate (MCA), Thioglycolate medium broth (TG), and Ogawa egg medium. RESULTS: Among the patients receiving only BSS irrigation, pathogens were identified in eight eyes before surgery and in four eyes after surgery in BAP and MCA medium. Among the patients receiving BAC-STAT LASIK Ring and irrigation, pathogens were identified in nine eyes before surgery and in three eyes after surgery in BAP and MCA culture medium. In addition, among the control population, pathogens were found in 21 eyes both before and after surgery in TG culture medium. However, among the experimental population, pathogens were grown in 23 eyes before surgery but in only 14 eyes after surgery. No growth of pathogens was reported in all patients before and after surgery in a 4-week Ogawa egg culture medium. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that preoperative BAC-STAT LASIK Ring insertion followed by irrigation decreases the incidence of postoperative infection.