2007 OMIG, Abstract 9

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Rate of Suture-Related Corneal Infections After Cataract Surgery
Bennie H. Jeng, MD, Brian J. Lee, MD, Scott D. Smith, MD, MPH
Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic

Purpose: To determine the rate of suture-related corneal infections after clear corneal incision cataract surgery.
Methods: We reviewed the medical records of all patients who underwent clear corneal incision cataract surgery involving the use of a 10-0 nylon suture for wound closure from January 1, 2002 to June 1, 2007, and who were subsequently diagnosed with a suture-related corneal infection.
Results: During the study period, 12,145 cataract surgeries were performed at our institution.  Of these surgeries, 8,150 cases were done via clear corneal incisions, and of these, 4,082 cases involved the use of a 10-0 nylon suture to close the corneal wound.  During the follow up period, there were three cases of suture-related corneal infections, yielding a rate of 0.07%.  Time to infection from surgery ranged from 9 weeks to 33 months. One patient required the injection of intravitreal antibiotics for a presumed endophthalmitis, The two other patients responded favorably to topical fortified vancomycin and  gentamicin drops. There was no change in best spectacle corrected visual acuity after the infections. Of cataract surgeries via clear corneal incisions without a corneal suture or via a scleral tunnel approach, we found no cases of post-operative corneal infections.
Conclusions: The rate of suture-related corneal infections after the use of a 10-0 nylon suture to close a clear corneal temporal wound was found to be 0.07%. Despite this low rate, however, morbidity from such complications can be quite significant. Routine removal of sutures in the early post-operative period could be warranted to prevent such infections from developing. 

Supported in part by a Research to Prevent Blindness Challenge Grant, Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (SDS and BHJ), and NIH 8K12 RR023264 Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Training Awards (BHJ).

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