Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Open Access

Abstract

Comparison of Two Methods of Wound Closure in Paediatric Cataract Surgery

Jaspreet Sukhija and Savleen Kaur

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and outcome of viscosealing of incisions with suturing in pediatric cataract surgery.
Methods: This prospective study was performed in children less than 5 years with congenital cataract who underwent phacoaspiration with primary posterior capsulorhexis and anterior vitrectomy with intraocular lens implantation at a tertiary care institute. Patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 included patients where 10-0 polyglactin (Vicryl) suture was used to close the sideports and main incision and in group 2 the incisions were sealed with 1.4% sodium hyaluronate. The patients were subsequently examined on serial follow up for one year.
Results: 50 paediatric eyes undergoing phacoaspiration with intraocular lens implantation were included (25 in each group). Mean age at surgery was 10.65 ± 8.20 months in group 1 and 12.6 ± 9.57 months in Group 2. Complications encountered in group 1 were hyphema in 8 eyes, sideport synechiae in 4 eyes, iridolenticular adhesions in 12 eyes and vascularisation of the ports in 6 eyes post operatively. In group 2 synechiae at sideport was seen in 2 eyes, iridolenticular adhesions in 2 eyes, and shallow anterior chamber in 1 eye post operatively. Most of the complications in group 2 were seen in children <12 months of age (46.4%).
Conclusion: Viscosealing is comparable to suturing of incisions in children undergoing cataract surgery. It avoids the suture related complications related to vascularization and hyphaema besides a second time general anesthesia needed to manage them.