title: Selective argon laser suturelysis versus needle suturelysis to treat induced corneal astigmatism after cataract surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the complications and subjective experience of patients having argon laser suturelysis (LS) with those of patients having needle suturelysis (NS) for corneal astigmatism after extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Ophthalmology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study comprised 30 patients (30 eyes) with more than 3.00 diopters of with-the-rule astigmatism after ECCE. A minimum of 5 weeks after surgery, 2 sutures along the steepest meridian were lysed by the same surgeon, 1 by a needle and the other by laser using a Hoskins lens. Patients were randomized to receive NS first followed by LS or LS followed by NS. The complications were recorded. The patients subjectively graded their fear and discomfort/pain during suturelysis using a scale from 0 to 10. Patient preference for either procedure was also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The complications of NS were conjunctival epithelial defect (17/30), subconjunctival hemorrhage (13/30), and corneal abrasion (4/30) and of LS, minor conjunctival burn (1/30) and conjunctival epithelial defect (1/30). The mean subjective fear and discomfort/pain scores in the NS group were significantly higher than in the LS group (P =.0010 and P =.0014, respectively). Nineteen patients preferred LS, 3 preferred NS, and 8 had no preference for either procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Argon laser suturelysis was associated with fewer complications than NS and was preferred by patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
authors.forename: Chee-Chew
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Hung-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nah
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: Kah-Guan
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Au Eong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques