SCIENTIFIC REPORT

Suturing a tear of the anterior capsulorhexis

G Kleinmann¹, J Chew¹, D J Apple¹, E I Assia² and N Mamalis¹

¹ David J Apple, MD, Laboratories for Ophthalmic Devices Research, John A. Moran Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
² Department of Ophthalmology, Meir Hospital, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Israel

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Guy Kleinmann
MD, John A Moran Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah, 50 N. Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA; guy.kleinmann{at}hsc.utah.edu

Aim: To describe a new technique of suturing a tear in the anterior capsulorhexis.

Methods: Continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) with lens removal was done in five fresh cadaver eyes. The diameter of the CCC was measured with a calliper. Using the same calliper a tear of the CCC was created while opening the calliper’s arms. The distance between the calliper’s arms needed to tear the CCC was documented. Using 9-0 Ethilon 9011, CS 160-6 sutures in two eyes, 9-0 Prolene, D-8229, CTC-6L sutures in two eyes, and 10-0 Prolene, 9090, CTC-6 suture in one eye, the tears were sutured. A tear in the CCC was created again in the same way as the first tear. The distance between the calliper’s arms needed to tear the CCC was documented again.

Results: Suturing of the tear restored some of the strength/elasticity of the CCC. Better results were found while using the 9-0 Prolene, D-8229, CTC-6L sutures than with the two others sutures.

Conclusions: Suturing of a broken CCC can restore at least some of the strength/elasticity of the CCC. This can be important before intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for the safety of the implantation or after the implantation to ensure proper fixation of the IOL.

Abbreviations: CCC, continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis; IOL, intraocular lens; OVD, ophthalmic viscoelastic device

Keywords: anterior capsulorhexis; sutures

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