Wound complications associated with incision enlargement for foldable intraocular lens implantation during cataract surgery.

PURPOSE

To ascertain whether enlarging the incision for implantation of MA60 intraocular lenses (IOLs) causes increased wound instability and compare the incidence of wound-related complications with that after SI-40NB IOL implantation through an unenlarged incision.

METHODS

This retrospective study comprised operative and postoperative notes of consecutive patients who had implantation of an Allergan SI-40NB IOL using the Unfolder or an Alcon MA60 AcrySof IOL from April 30, 1999, and before. The operative reports were used to determine whether there were any wound problems, particularly the need to suture the wound. Records from the first postoperative day were reviewed for evidence of wound leak or other wound-related complications.

RESULTS

Of the 200 eyes receiving an SI-40NB IOL, 3 (1.5%) required the placement of a suture during surgery to secure the wound. None had a wound leak 1 day postoperatively. Of the 200 eyes receiving an MA60 IOL, 12 (6.0%) required the placement of a suture during surgery to secure the wound. One eye had a wound leak 1 day postoperatively. The difference in the number of wound-related complications between the 2 IOL groups was significant (P =.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Significantly more wound-related complications occurred after incision enlargement for implantation of MA60 IOLs than after implantation of SI-40NB IOLs through unenlarged incisions.