title: Lateral tarsorrhaphy: is it preferable to patching?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of lateral tarsorrhaphy for the management of postkeratoplasty epithelial defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six patients with persistent postkeratoplasty epithelial defects that did not heal despite topical medical therapy for a period of 96 hours were treated with either a lateral tarsorrhaphy (18 patients) or with tight patching (18 patients). All patients were evaluated daily by slit-lamp examination until complete reepithelialization occurred.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The epithelial healing was significantly faster (7.61+/-0.91 days vs. 12.6+/-1.61 days, p<0.5) in the lateral tarsorrhaphy group. Further, the patients with lateral tarsorrhaphies were significantly more comfortable when compared with those of the patching group (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lateral tarsorrhaphy provides quick symptomatic relief and faster corneal epithelial defect healing. Therefore, it may be of benefit in cases of postkeratoplasty persistent epithelial defects.
authors.affiliation: Cornea Service, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panda
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pushker
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bageshwar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001458:Bandages; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014945:Wound Healing