Keratometric astigmatism after ECCE in eastern Nepal. Continuous versus interrupted sutures.
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.
Sood
Archana
A
Department of Ophthalmology, B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal bpkihs@npl.healthnet.org
Thakur
Sanjay Kumar D
SK
Kumar
Sandeep
S
Badhu
Badri
B
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