Chemical disinfectants in ophthalmic practice

Parikh, Shefali R; Parikh, Rajul S

The instrumentation used in ophthalmic clinics can be a source of epidemics in health care set up. Contact tonometry with Schiotz or Applanation tonometer is associated with nosocomial epidemic keratoconjunctivitis outbreaks. Recently identified SARS-CoV-2 (COVID -19) spreads mainly via the respiratory route and fomites and can transmit through other body fluids, including tear film. Various ophthalmic instruments can become a common source of spreading cross infections. Chemical disinfection is one of the most common methods employed to decontaminate instruments and environmental surfaces and prevent transmission of infectious pathogens to patients through medical and surgical instruments. Various chemical disinfectants are available with a varied spectrum to work on a different group of organisms. In this article, we briefly cover commonly used chemical disinfectants in ophthalmic practice like Alcohol (Ethyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol), Chlorine-based solution (mainly Sodium Hypochlorite), Glutaraldehyde, Hydrogen Peroxide, Formaldehyde, Iodophors, and Quaternary Ammonium Compounds