Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Open Access

Abstract

Sutured Versus Sutureless Sclerotomies after 25 Gauge Vitrectomy without an Internal Tamponade

Ilkay Kilic Muftuoglu, Mark Espina, Frank Tsai, Hema Ramkumar, Michael Goldbaum and William R Freeman

Objective: We wished to determine whether suturing of 25 gauge sclerotomies was advantageous in maintaining normal intraocular pressure (IOP) or preventing hypotony after 25-gauge vitrectomy in eyes not requiring internal tamponade.
Methods: Two-hundred seventeen consecutive 25-gauge vitrectomy surgeries from 2010 to 2013 performed at a single center by two surgeons were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the surgeon's routine use of suture in such cases. Surgeon 1 (sutureless group) did not suture any sclerotomies unless intra-operative leakage was noted and surgeon 2 (sutured group) sutured all 25 gauge sclerotomies routinely. Patient data was retrieved from charts and from this we determined the mean IOP change from baseline, hypotony incidence, and complications.
Results: There was no significant difference in the mean IOP change at any postoperative visits (p=0.18 at postop day 1, p=0.3 at postop week 2, p=0.23 at postop 1 month, and p=0.43 at postop month 3) between the two groups. The hypotony rate was 10.9% in surgeon 1 and 9% in surgeon 2 group at postoperative day 1 (p=0.82). One patient required suture placement at postoperative day 1 in sutureless group. No complications were seen related with hypotony at any groups.
Conclusion: In our population, there is no increased risk of hypotony with sutureless transconjunctival 25-gauge vitrectomy. Suturing of non-leaking 25-gauge wounds has no effect on complications from hypotony.