Effect of Eyelid Opener on Wound Closure Time in Cataract Surgery

Background: This study evaluates the effect of limiting eyelid opening on wound closure time and surgical outcomes during cataract surgery. Methods: This retrospective study included 129 patients who had undergone cataract surgery between December 2023 and March 2024. The patients were divided into two groups based on the degree of eyelid opening: full eyelid opening group (n = 78) and 1 mm eyelid opening group (n = 51). Wound closure time, total operation time, postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity (UCVA and BCVA, respectively), anterior chamber protein levels, and corneal endothelial cell loss were compared between the two groups. Results: The 1 mm eyelid opening group had a significantly shorter wound closure time (32.9 ± 11.2 s) compared with the full eyelid opening group (57.0 ± 21.3 s, p < 0.001), as well as reduced total operation time (547.5 ± 83.1 s vs. 606.9 ± 144 s, p = 0.02). No significant differences were observed in the postoperative IOP, BCVA, UCVA, anterior chamber protein levels, or corneal endothelial cell loss between the groups. Conclusions: Limiting the eyelid opening to 1 mm from the corneal limbus during cataract surgery can reduce wound closure time and total operation time without compromising visual outcomes or corneal endothelial health. This simple adjustment may contribute to improved surgical efficiency.