Postoperative blunt trauma to 7.5 mm scleral pocket wounds

Two patients received blunt trauma to the operated eye after phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Both patients had a three-step 7.5 mm chord width, 3.0 mm long, curving incision, extending from sclera into clear cornea. One patient had rupture of the scleral tunnel and horizontal suture 20 days after surgery. The intraocular lens was dislocated into and along the scleral tunnel. The second patient had direct trauma four days after surgery, resulting in cheese-wiring of the horizontal nylon 10-0 suture and wound leakage but no other sequelae. Blunt trauma after scleral pocket phacoemulsification cataract surgery may result in clinical wound dehiscence if sufficient force is sustained.