Abstract: Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of eyelash removal on the bacterial distribution in cataract surgery field and provide a basis for the infection control measures in the perioperative period of cataract. Methods A total of 280 patients of cataract surgery in our hospital were chosen in this study. The patients were divided into eyelash removal group (n=128) and non-eyelash removal group (n=152). All the patients underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation for cataract. The specimens of the operation paste surface and the conjunctival sac were collected for bacterial culture. The bacterial culture results were observed in the two groups. Meanwhile, the postoperative eye symptoms were compared between the two groups. Results The positive rate of bacterial culture [13.16% (20/152) vs. 29.69% (38/128), respectively] and the proportion of the same species of bacteria in the conjunctival sac and the operation paste surface [2.63% (4/152) vs. 7.81% (10/128), respectively] in the non-eyelashe removal group were significantly lower than those of the eyelash removal group(P＜0.05). The bacteria in conjunctival sac after operation were the same species as those on surgical film, all of which were staphylococcus epidermidis. On the first postoperative day and the seventh postoperative day, the symptoms of eye irritation and the degrees of hyperemia were significantly improved in the non-eyelash removal group than those of the eyelash removal group (P＜0.05). Conclusion In the eyelash removal group, the distribution of bacteria is higher in the operative field of cataract patients than that in the non-eyelash removal group, and the strain of endophthalmitis is highly likely to originate from the orbital margin. In addition, the eyelashes retention can reduce postoperative eye irritation and conjunctival hyperaemia.

Key words: phacoemulsification, endophthalmitis, eyelashes, bacterial infections