title: The management of post-keratoplasty astigmatism by post-operative adjustment of a single continuous suture.
abstract: Penetrating keratoplasty was performed in 39 consecutive patients. A 16 bite 10-0 nylon continuous suture was used. Post-operatively, the suture was adjusted to reduce astigmatism, as determined by refraction, keratoscopy and keratometry. Suture adjustment was performed if astigmatism was over 4 dioptres (D). The suture was tightened in the flatter meridian and loosened in the steeper meridian. Twenty-one patients had suture adjustment performed. Prior to adjustment, mean (+/- standard deviation) astigmatism measured 6.33 +/- 1.38 D. Following adjustment, mean astigmatism was significantly reduced to 2.69 +/- 1.14 D (p < 0.0001). The average final astigmatism for the entire group was 2.66 +/- 1.12 D. The use of a continuous adjustable suture in penetrating keratoplasty significantly reduced the post-operative astigmatism in a group of patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty.
authors.affiliation: Birmingham and Midland Eye Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Hope-Ross
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McDonnell
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Corridan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Naylor
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tan-Yee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014792:Visual Acuity