Ice compresses aid the reduction of swelling and pain after scleral buckling surgery

Aims and objectives To investigate the therapeutic effects of a local ice compress in alleviating eyelid swelling and errhysis and providing relief from pain after surgery. Background Eyelid swelling and pain are the most common postoperative symptoms after scleral buckling surgery. A local ice compress can reduce the severity of swelling, errhysis and pain after acute injury as well as after surgery. Design A retrospective study. Methods A total of 100 patients who had undergone scleral buckling surgery for retinal detachment were classified into an ice compress group or a control group. All patients received standard postoperative medical care: a 1% Tropicamide ophthalmic solution (Minims® Tropicamide; Bausch & Lomb, Surrey, UK), a 1% prednisolone acetate (Pred‐Forte; Allergan, Irvine, CA, USA), an ophthalmic tobramycin 0·3%/dexamethasone 0·1% combination ointment (Tobradex®; Alcon, Fort Worth, Texas, USA) and 0·5% Levofloxacin eye drops (Santen Pharmaceutical, Osaka, Japan), plus a homemade ice pack was placed over the operated eye of patients in the ice compress group for 30 minutes, three times a day for two consecutive postoperative days. Results The severity of swelling, pain and errhysis in the operated eyes was significantly lower in the ice compress group. Conclusions The local ice compress therapy helped reduce swelling, errhysis and pain in the operated eye after scleral buckling surgery. Relevance to clinical practice Use of a local ice compress after scleral buckling surgery can reduce swelling and pain on operated eyes, providing greater comfort for patients.