title: Prevention of suture exposure in transscleral intraocular lens fixation: an original technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this retrospective study, we evaluated our surgical outcomes of transscleral intraocular lens (IOL) fixation and introduced a simple, quick, and effective method to fixate and bury the sutures in the sclera to avoid suture exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eyes were divided into 3 groups according to surgical technique. Half-thickness scleral flaps were prepared, and polypropylene suture ends were cut short in group 1 (12 eyes). Suture ends were left long without flaps in group 2 (47 eyes) and were buried into the scleral tunnel in group 3 (21 eyes).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The suture exposure rate was significantly lower in group 3 (0%) compared with group 2 (p = 0.006) and group 1 (p = 0.040). There was no significant difference in group 1 (25%) compared with group 2 (27.6%) (p = 1.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Burying the suture ends into the scleral tunnel is a simple, safe, and effective technique for avoiding suture exposure in scleral-fixated IOL implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Adnan Menderes University Medical School, Aydin, Turkey. erkinkir@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Erkin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kir
authors.forename: Tolga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kocaturk
authors.forename: Volkan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dayanir
authors.forename: Seyhan Bahar
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.forename: Sema Oruç
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Dündar
authors.forename: Turgay Orhan
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Aktunç
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures
chemical_list: D011126:Polypropylenes