Bursting point of sutured limbal incisions

The bursting point of standard limbal cataract incisions closed with five or 11 sutures was measured in postmortem eyes with an air gauge and bulb. Bursting point was a minimum of 90 mm Hg when five sutures of either 7-0 polyglactin 910 or 10-0 nylon closed the incision. Eleven sutures increased the average bursting point 55% for nylon and 87% for polyglactin 910. Bursting point was higher for flat than watch-glass-beveled incisions. Wound leak always occurred at pressures well below the bursting point.