Sali-wipes for Eyecare?

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I was just curious on everyone's protocols for eye care in the preemies. We have sterile Sali-wipes and most of the nurses use those. But according to our skin team, repeated use of the Sali-wipes can clog the tear ducts and cause eye drainage. We have had a lot of eye drainage in our unit and cultures were negative. I personally use sterile water sprinkled onto a soft-net and I have never had a problem. I'm wondering if cutting down on sali-wipes for eyecare would solve our problem. Has anyone heard of this? Thanks!

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Specializes in NICU, IMC.

Several people in my unit use the Saline wipes also, but I hate the way they smell. I always use sterile water on sterile soft gauze.

I hadn't thought about the drainage thing, but I'll mention it to our developmental committee....

Sorry, no help...just throwing in my :twocents:

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Specializes in NICU.

We've been using the Saline wipes for awhile now and I don't think that we've seen an increase in eye drainage. (I could be wrong....)

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Specializes in NICU III/Transport.

I can't imagine that Sali-wipes in and of themselves would clog tear ducts and increase eye drainage. Maybe improper or overuse?

However, I'm perfectly fine with being wrong and am interested in what others have to say.

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Specializes in Neonatal nursing (paediatric trained).

We use sterile water and a square of gauze.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

We use sterile water and guaze. Does your skin team have any EBP to support their statement? I'd be curious to know.

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just sterile water and gauze.

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Specializes in CICU, NICU, Advice Nursing.

i wear contacts and use saline solution to clean my eyes. the liquid produced in eyes is closest to saline. saline is definitely more comfortable than water...

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Specializes in Neonatal.

We use sali-wipes for eyecare. I haven't seen any problems.

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Specializes in NICU.
i wear contacts and use saline solution to clean my eyes. the liquid produced in eyes is closest to saline. saline is definitely more comfortable than water...

Definitely!! Once my contacts were drying out at work so I put a little bit of a saline flush in to get me thru the shift. Another nurse saw me and freaked out, wondering if it hurt. I couldn't feel a thing!!

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Specializes in NICU Level III.
Definitely!! Once my contacts were drying out at work so I put a little bit of a saline flush in to get me thru the shift. Another nurse saw me and freaked out, wondering if it hurt. I couldn't feel a thing!!

I've had to take them out during work and used a NS syringe to store them ..hey, I was in a pinch! I'd rather have saline in my eye than water...

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