Purpose
This study compared the pain-relieving effects of human milk, sucrose, and distilled water during examinations for retinopathy of prematurity.
Methods
Forty-five preterm infants were randomly assigned to receive a pacifier dipped in one of three solutions: human milk (n=14), 24% sucrose (n=15), or distilled water (n=16), 2 minutes before an eye examination. Their pain score, pulse rate, and oxygen saturation were measured at three time points: 5 minutes before the examination, 30 seconds after speculum introduction, and 2 minutes after the examination.
Results
The infants’ mean gestational age and weight at birth were 33.1±2.1 weeks and 1,842±470 g, respectively. There were no between-group differences in pain relief during the eye examination. The pain score significantly increased both during (p<.001) and after the examinations (p=.003). Oxygen saturation decreased during the examinations (p<.001); however, the infants in the 24% sucrose group showed higher oxygen saturation (p=.047) during the examinations than the infants in the other groups.
Conclusion
Sucking on a pacifier dipped in human milk or 24% sucrose did not reduce the pain associated with eye examinations in preterm infants. Pacifiers dipped in sucrose can be used to maintain better oxygen saturation during these examinations.

Citations

• Sensory Saturation (3T) for Pain Management During ROP Screening in Preterm Infants Born Between 32 to 36 Weeks of Gestational Age
  Yongli Ni, Xuejun Zhao, Jiamin Xu, Chaoqun Zhou, De Kuang Hwang
  Journal of Ophthalmology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Efficacy of Expressed Breast Milk Versus Sweet Solutions for Neonatal Procedural Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  Vanessa Espejo-Mansilla, Alessandra Coscia, Héctor Fuentes-Barría, Raúl Aguilera-Eguía, Lisse Angarita-Davila, Cherie Flores-Fernández, Ángel Roco-Videla
  Biomedicines.2026; 14(7): 1565.     CrossRef
• Effects of fentanyl and sucrose on pain in retinopathy examinations with pain scale, near-infrared spectroscopy, and ultrasonography: a randomized trial
  Nursu Kara, Didem Arman, Zeynep Seymen, Adem Gül, Serdar Cömert
  World Journal of Pediatrics.2023; 19(9): 873.     CrossRef
• Non-pharmacological pain relief interventions in preterm neonates undergoing screening for retinopathy of prematurity: a systematic review
  Iretiola Bamikeolu Fajolu, Iyabode Olabisi Florence Dedeke, Beatrice Nkolika Ezenwa, Veronica Chinyere Ezeaka
  BMJ Open Ophthalmology.2023; 8(1): e001271.     CrossRef
• Effect of non-nutritive sucking on pain during the examination of retinopathy of prematurity
  Tuba Koç Özkan, Elif Didem Yüksel, Selahattin Akar
  Journal of Neonatal Nursing.2022; 28(3): 155.     CrossRef
• Effect of Prone Position, Pacifier and Smelling Breast Milk on Pain and Stress Parameters Among Term Neonates Undergoing Venipuncture: A Randomized Controlled Trail
  Fuat Özdemir, Derya Evgin, Nalan Gördeles Beşer
  The Journal of Pediatric Research.2022; 9(2): 146.     CrossRef
• Effectiveness of Gentle Human Touch for Pain Control During Examination for Retinopathy of Pre-maturity: A Randomized Controlled Trial
  Yongping Sun, Jinghan Zhang, Xu Chen, Yang Yang, Jie Qiu, Ke-yu Lu, Rui Cheng
  Frontiers in Pediatrics.2020;[Epub]     CrossRef