Lateral tarsorrhaphy: is it preferable to patching?
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.
Panda
A
A
Cornea Service, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
Pushker
N
N
Bageshwar
L M
LM
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