title: Keratometric astigmatism after ECCE in eastern Nepal. Continuous versus interrupted sutures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to compute and compare the keratometric astigmatism induced by wound closure with continuous and interrupted sutures in conventional extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation at a single centre in eastern Nepal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty eyes of 60 patients were included in the study. All patients received conventional extracapsular cataract extraction and single piece modified C-loop posterior chamber intraocular lens. Thirty eyes were sutured with continuous (Group 1) and 30 eyes with interrupted sutures (Group 2). The results were analysed by the unpaired student's t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of 6 weeks, Group 1 patients had significantly higher astigmatism (3.53 +/- 2.19D) compared to Group 2 patients (1.7 +/- 1.35). A majority of patients in both groups had with-the-rule astigmatism throughout the postoperative period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interrupted sutures cause less astigmatism than continuous suture. The factors responsible for high astigmatism in continuous sutures call for further analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal bpkihs@npl.healthnet.org
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sood
authors.forename: Sanjay Kumar D
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Thakur
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Badri
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Badhu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013537:Sutures; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014945:Wound Healing