Nine-year safety with self-sealing corneal tunnel incision in clear cornea cataract surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the safety of clear cornea cataract surgery using a self-sealing corneal tunnel incision.


METHODS
Prospective noncomparative consecutive case series.


METHODS
A total of 3500 consecutive clear cornea topical anesthesia cataract surgeries performed by one surgeon between January 1994 and May 2003 were included.


METHODS
All cases were operated using phacoemulsification via a temporal 3x2-mm clear cornea cataract incision under topical anesthesia.


METHODS
Cases were evaluated for successful completion and postoperative endophthalmitis, retinal detachment (RD), corneal decompensation, and wound complications requiring a return to the operating room.


RESULTS
All 3500 consecutive clear cornea cataract surgery cases performed under topical anesthesia were completed safely. A total of 56 cases (1.6%) required a suture due to wound leakage before completion of the surgery. No cases required a return to the operating room for suture placement. Six cases (0.17%) experienced an RD within a 30-day postoperative period. There were no cases of endophthalmitis or corneal decompensation detected.


CONCLUSIONS
For the past 9 years, we have found that clear cornea cataract surgery performed under topical anesthesia is safe and results in few postoperative complications.
Monica
Monica L
ML
Lakeview Vision, Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana 70124, USA.
Long
Daniel A
DA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing