Why Enzymatic Pretreatment Products Are Not Appropriate for Ophthalmic Instruments

Pretreating used surgical instruments with an enzymatic agent after a surgical case is recommended.¹ These agents help keep instruments wet and begin breaking down bioburden prior to arrival of instruments in the decontamination area of the sterile processing department. If this pretreatment process is not performed, soils, including bioburden, may dry on the instruments and make it more difficult to clean the instruments.² National ophthalmic organizations, however, recommend avoiding routinely using enzymatic products on instruments that are used in the eye,³ and many nurses often wonder why these instruments are an exception.