J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2006 Oct;47(10):1543-1548.

Changes in Corneal Curvature after Suture Removal in Penetrating Keratoplasty

• Han ES
• Wee WR
• Lee JH
• Kim MK

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate the changes in corneal curvature after suture removal in penetrating keratoplasty.
METHODS
Forty-six patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty without any other surgery which may affect on the corneal keratometric values were included, and their data were retrospectively reviewed. The mean follow-up was 11.5 months and the average donor-recipient size gap was 0.47 mm. Corneal curvature was estimated by the Simulated Keratometric index in 17 eyes with continuous sutures and in 29 eyes with interrupted sutures. The changes of corneal curvature were compared between suture-removed and not suture-removed groups.
RESULTS
In patients with continuous suture, the corneal curvature increased significantly from 47.12D at 5.1 months to 49.30D at 10.6 months after suture removal (p=0.002); in patients with interrupted suture, corneal curvature increased from 37.93D at 4.1 months to 42.44D at 11.5 months (p<0.001) after an average removal of 4.23 interrupted sutures, but it was not changed in each not suture-removed groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Corneal curvature increased, on average, by 2.18D after one continuous suture removal and by 2.26D after an average of 2.12 interrupted sutures removal in penetrating keratoplasty. Prediction of keratometric value after removal of the sutures can be helpful to determine intraocular lens power in cataract surgery simultaneously combined with penetrating keratoplasty.

Keyword

Changes in corneal curvature; Corneal curvature; Penetrating keratoplasty; Suture removal

MeSH Terms

Cataract
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Keratoplasty, Penetrating*
Lenses, Intraocular
Retrospective Studies
Sutures*