Comparison of cleaning effect of three methods on phacoemulsification silicone tube in ophthalmology

ObjectiveThe present study aims to observe the cleaning effect of three methods on the phacoemulsification (phaco) silicone tube in ophthalmology.MethodsA total of 142 phaco silicone tubes taken within 2 hours after surgery were divided in three groups randomly. Manual cleaning was applied in Group A (43 cases), the method for cleaning and drying devices for batch cleaning of ophthalmic class A lumen was applied in Group B (46 cases), and the method for cleaning with a negative-pressure vacuum cleaner was applied in Group C (53 cases). The cleaning time was recorded and the cleaning effect was evaluated by three methods, namely, adenosinetriphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence assay, magnifying glass with light, and air gun.ResultsThe qualified rates of manual cleaning, the method for cleaning and drying devices for batch cleaning of ophthalmic class A lumen, and the method for cleaning with a negative-pressure vacuum cleaner were 95.3%, 94.3%, and 95.7%, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The average cleaning duration was 76 seconds per tube, 29.3 seconds per tube, and 69.46 seconds per tube, respectively.ConclusionAll three cleaning methods are available in the clinic, of which the method for cleaning and drying devices for batch cleaning of ophthalmic class A lumen has the highest efficiency.