Use of eyepatches in phototherapy: effects on conjunctival bacterial pathogens and conjunctivitis.

We conducted a randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of eye occlusion on the risk of eye infection in full term newborn infants receiving phototherapy. Among 102 infants whose eyes were occluded with eyepatches, pathogens were isolated from 50 eyes of 33 infants. The positive isolation rate was significantly higher than that of a group of control infants (n = 101) whose eyes were protected by a headbox made of light-proof plastics. Among the latter group pathogens were detected in 22 eyes of 14 infants. In addition significantly more infants in the eyepatches group had purulent eye discharge (23 of 102 vs. 9 of 101, P = 0.013) and clinical conjunctivitis (13 of 102 vs. 2 of 101, P = 0.004) than the controls. Proper eye care is imperative when eyepatches are used on infants receiving phototherapy, and alternative methods of eye protection should be considered.