The use of tissue adhesive in corneal perforations

Eighty patients with either corneal perforation or impending perforation were treated with the application of tissue adhesive that remained in place on the average of 50 days. Forty-four percent of these cases healed with the application of glue alone. Complications occurred in nine patients (11%). Two developed marked increase in intraocular pressure that was controlled with antiglaucoma medications and seven developed corneal infiltrates. Five of the infiltrates were culture-proven bacterial infections occurring on the average of 73 days after gluing. The relationships between diagnosis, duration of glue, and complications are reviewed.