TY - JOUR T1 - Is padding necessary after cataract extraction? JF - British Journal of Ophthalmology JO - Br J Ophthalmol SP - 699 LP - 701 DO - 10.1136/bjo.73.9.699 VL - 73 IS - 9 AU - D E Laws AU - M T Watts AU - G R Kirkby AU - J Lawson Y1 - 1989/09/01 UR - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/73/9/699.abstract N2 - The results of a prospective study to assess the value of padding eyes following cataract surgery are reported. A group of eyes dressed with a petroleum jelly mesh, gauze pad, and cartella shield were compared with a group dressed only with a cartella shield. Study of the eyes and lids before and after operation, including the taking of lid margin and fornix swabs for culture, suggested that there was no significant difference in the bacterial presence between the two groups. The eyes dressed with a cartella shield alone appeared less prone to discharge. The relative merits of different types of dressing are discussed. ER -