J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2008 Oct;49(10):1578-1582.

Relationship Between Needle Thickness and Intraocular Hemorrhage in Scleral Fixation of Intraocular Lenses

• Park SY
• Lee SJ

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the relationship between needle thickness and intraocular hemorrhage in patients who underwent scleral fixation of intraocular lenses
METHODS
The records and surgical videos of 44 patients who underwent scleral fixation from January 2002 to December 2005 were reviewed. Only eyes with two-point scleral fixation using a 26-gauge needle and 10-0 polypropylene were included. We checked for intraoperative intraocular hemorrhage that occurred at the time of introducing the needle through the sclera. The cases were divided into those with anterior chamber bleeding, those with mild vitreous hemorrhage less than or equal to grade II, and those with severe vitreous hemorrhage greater than or equal to grade III
RESULTS
Of the 44 eyes, 12 eyes (27.3%) showed intraocular hemorrhage, 10 eyes (22.7%) by 26-gauge needles and 2 eyes (4.5%) by 10-0 Prolene needles (p=0.026). Six eyes (13.6%), 5 by 26-gauge and 1 by 10-0 Prolene needles, suffered anterior chamber bleeding. Four eyes (9.1%), 3 by 26-gauge and 1 by 10-0 Prolene needles, showed mild vitreous hemorrhage, and 2 eyes (4.5%) by 26-gauge needle suffered severe hemorrhage
CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of intraocular hemorrhage appears to be lower when thinner needles are used in scleral fixation.

Keyword

Hemorrhage; Needle; Polypropylene; Sclera fixation

MeSH Terms

Anterior Chamber
Eye
Hemorrhage
Humans
Incidence
Lenses, Intraocular
Needles
Polypropylenes
Sclera
Vitreous Hemorrhage
Polypropylenes

Figure

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  Figure 1. Intraperative photograph of 56 years old patient who underwent scleral fixation. Grade I vitreous hemorrhage by 10-0 Prolene needle was identified at 7 o’clock direction.

Reference

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