Effect of Suture Material Upon Postoperative Corneal Astigmatism Following Cataract Extraction: A Comparison of NyLon and Prolene

Arporn Prabriputaloong, M.D.
Department of Ophthalmology, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen,40002

ABSTRACT A comparative study of postoperative changes in comeal astigmatism produced by nylon and prolene sutures in 55 consecutive cases (61 eyes) that had extracapsular cataract extrac tion with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation was conducted. All cases were performed by one surgeon between September 1989 and August 1990, using the same surgical technique.

Keratometric measurements at the visual axis were performed preoperatively and two months postoperatively. The mean values for preoperative astigmatism were +0.04 dioptres for nylon and +0.05 dioptres for prolene and that for postoperative astigmatism were +0.82 dioptres for nylon and +0.87 dioptres for prolene. There were significant mean increase in with-the-rule astigmatism for both nylon and prolene sutures postoperauvely (P=0.02 and 0.01). The surgically-induced comeal astigmatism was +0.79 dioptres for nylon and +0.84 dioptres for prolene.

There was no statistical significant difference in postoperative and surgically-induced corneal astigmatism between the two groups (P=0.89 and 0.87).

Thai J Ophthalmol 1990; July - Dec 4 (2): 119-124