Wound strength comparison of a 5.1-millimeter no-stitch with a 7.0-millimeter sutured incision in human cadaver globes

Abstract

We compared the wound strength of 5.1-millimeter no-stitch incisions with that of 7.0-millimeter sutured incisions in cadaver eyes. Each incision was performed on seven cadaver eyes. Wound integrity was evaluated by subjecting each globe to increasing intraocular pressure (IOP), increasing external pressure, and sudden external pressure. Wound leaks occurred in the 7.0-millimeter-incision globes at consistently lower IOPs and with less external pressure than they did in the 5.1-millimeter-incision globes. We conclude that the 5.1-millimeter no-stitch flap incision has greater wound integrity than the 7.0-millimeter sutured incision when subjected to either internal or external pressures.