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Cataract wound closure with a polymerizing liquid hydrogel ocular bandage
1Jules Stein Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA. drhovanesian@harvardeye.com
Purpose:
To determine whether a polymerizing liquid hydrogel ocular bandage can create a watertight seal in a clear corneal cataract incision.
Setting:
Laboratory.
Methods:
Twenty-four clear corneal cataract wounds were made in eye-bank corneas. Twelve wounds were treated with a tissue-adherent hydrogel ocular bandage; 12 control wounds received no bandage. Each eye was tested under low-pressure conditions to detect fluid ingress of India ink on the eye's surface. Eyes were tested again with external compression to distort the wound to detect fluid egress.
Results:
India ink did not enter the wound in any incision in the treated group but did enter 9 (75%) of 12 incisions in the control group. Fluid egress with external manipulation did not occur in any treated eyes but did occur in 11 (92%) control eyes.
Conclusion:
A tissue-adherent hydrogel ocular bandage created a watertight seal in clear corneal cataract wounds.
