Dr. Daniel B. Goldberg, Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Drexel College of Medicine and colleagues, are conducting a study to confirm the effectiveness of their protocol of using 5% Betadine irrigation for treatment of acute epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC), and to expand the awareness amongst eye care professionals of this inexpensive treatment for EKC.

As Dr. Goldberg observes on the website launched to attract interest in the study, EKC is a common, worldwide, highly contagious and often severe form of conjunctivits with the potential for long term visual sequelae due to corneal involvement. Yet, present treatment of EKC is generally supportive, and there is no established antiviral therapy. Sporadic reports of the use of 5% Betadine irrigation to treat EKC exist. Nevertheless, ineffective antibiotics are widely prescribed resulting in costly and unnecessary use of antibacterial medications, possibly encouraging the emergence of antibiotic resistance.

The protocol is open to ophthalmologists, US and international, who agree to follow the protocol and report clinical results thru Dr. Goldberg’s website. The initial phase will be collecting data thru October 1, 2009, and it is anticipated that subsequently there will be modifications to the protocol and study design.

The protocol involves the off-label use of 5% povidone-iodine ophthalmic solution(Betadine 5% Sterile Ophthalmic Solution manufactured by Alcon). Betadine 5% is FDA approved for “pre-operative prep and irrigation of the ocular surface,” and is routinely used for pre-operative antisepsis prior to ophthalmic surgery.

At present, there are no commercial sponsors of the study, and no financial interest for any of the researchers. The project is being undertaken in the interest of public health, and support may be provided in the future by a grant from a charitable trust.

To learn more, visit Dr. Goldberg’s website ^[1].

Click here ^[2] to learn more about registering to participate in the study and submit patient case data.