title: Corneoscleral abscess resulting from a broken suture after cataract surgery.
abstract: An 82-year-old man had pain and decreased vision in his right eye 15 months after uncomplicated cataract surgery. Examination revealed a large corneoscleral abscess with a 2 mm x 1 mm area of fluorescein staining at the base of a broken protruding 10-0 nylon suture. Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from both the suture and base of the ulcer. Despite intensive topical, subconjunctival, and systemic antibiotics, a large corneal perforation developed, necessitating a 10 mm tectonic penetrating keratoplasty. Long-term follow-up of patients after cataract surgery is important and should include an inspection of the limbal wound and removal of loose or broken exposed sutures. Suture-related complications will be eliminated if clinical studies prove the safety and efficacy of sutureless cataract surgery.
authors.affiliation: King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huaman
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000382:microbiology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D009757:Nylons; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D015422:Scleral Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013537:Sutures / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D009757:Nylons