Comparison of suture materials for closure of the scleral pocket incision

Eighty-five eyes had similar phacoemulsification with posterior chamber lens implantation through a scleral pocket incision. In all cases, wound closure was accomplished with a running suture closed under control of surgical keratometry with operative intraocular pressure established at 15 mm Hg. Three groups were established to determine the influence of various suture materials on the course of postoperative astigmatism; 35 eyes were closed with 10-0 nylon, 25 eyes with 9-0 nylon, and 25 eyes with 10-0 polyester. The results demonstrated a reduced iatrogenic with-the-rule astigmatic shift early after surgery in the group closed with 10-0 nylon compared to the groups closed with the other suture materials. The results for all three groups in the late postoperative period were indistinguishable. A tendency for giant papillary conjunctivitis was noted in the eyes closed with 10-0 polyester.