Effect on corneal shape of suturing the scleral wound during 23-gauge vitreous surgery

We investigated the effects on corneal shape of suturing the scleral wound during 23-gauge vitreous surgery.

We used a corneal topographic modeling system to measure the corneal shape in 39 eyes of 39 patients before and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after performing 23-gauge vitreous surgery. We investigated the immediate postoperative changes and the postoperative changes over time according to whether suturing was performed. Suturing of the scleral wound was required in 20 eyes of 20 patients (suture group) and was not performed in 19 eyes of 19 patients (no-suture group). Spherical equivalent, regular astigmatism, asymmetry, and higher order irregularity components were investigated separately using Fourier analysis of corneal shape data obtained from the topographic modeling system.

The no-suture group showed no significant change in any component at any point after surgery. In the suture group, spherical equivalent, regular astigmatism, asymmetry, and higher order irregularities were all increased 1 week postoperatively, but by 1 month postoperatively, these had all returned to their preoperative states.

If suturing is required during 23-gauge vitreous surgery, patients should be monitored with the understanding that changes in refractive value may occur during the month after surgery owing to changes in corneal shape.