Warmed versus room temperature saline solution for ocular irrigation: A randomized clinical trial

Study objective: To test the hypothesis that ocular irrigation with warm sa line solution is more comfortable than irrigation with roam temperature sal ine solution in normal volunteers. Methods: The study was a randomized, single-blind crossover trial, in which each subject received 30 mL warmed and 30 mt room temperature saline solut ion in opposite eyes. The solutions (warmed Versus room temperature) and th e order of irrigation (right eye Versus left) were separately randomized. P hysicians were blinded to solution temperature. Subjects rated the discomfo rt of irrigation on separate visual analog scales (VAS). The study had 80% power to detect at least a 12-mm difference in VAS readings. Results: Thirty-five volunteers were enrolled in the study. There was no ge nder effect or order effect for the 2 solutions. The mean VAS score for war med saline solution was 15 mm +/- 15 mm (SD). The mean VAS score for room t emperature saline was 34 mm +/- 24 mm (SD), (95% confidence interval for di fference of 19 mm [10 mm to 28 mm], P<.0001, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Conclusion: Warmed saline solution was both clinically and statistically mo re comfortable than room temperature saline solution as an ocular irrigant among normal Volunteers.