title: The Effect of Eye Patching on Clear Corneal Incision Architecture in Phacoemulsification: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of postoperative eye patching on clear corneal incision architecture in phacoemulsification.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-center, randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 132 patients with uncomplicated phacoemulsification were randomly allocated to the intervention or control group. The intervention group received postoperative eye patching for approximately 18 hours, whereas the control group received eye shield. The clear corneal incision architecture was examined postoperatively at 2 hours, 1 day, and 7 days after surgery using optical coherence tomography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Epithelial gaping was significantly reduced on postoperative day 1 in the intervention group (52.4%) compared with control (74.2%) (P = 0.01). No differences were found for other architectural defects. Descemet membrane detachment was associated with lower intraocular pressure on postoperative day 7 (P = 0.02). Presence of underlying diabetes mellitus did not seem to influence architectural defects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postoperative eye patching facilitated epithelial healing and reduced the occurrence of epithelial gaping on postoperative day 1. It may play a role in protecting and improving corneal wounds during the critical immediate postoperative period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching, Malaysia.|Department of Ophthalmology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Fui Li
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohamad Aziz
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Salowi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mae-Lynn Catherine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bastion
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001458:Bandages; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003886:Descemet Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: architecture; clear corneal incision; epithelial gaping; eye patching; phacoemulsification