Closure technique for leaking wound resulting from thermal injury during phacoemulsification.

UNLABELLED: We describe a method of wound closure with a conjunctival flap in cases of wound burn. A fornix-based conjunctival flap is raised to adequately cover the wound. Then, a single horizontal mattress suture with 10-0 monofilament nylon is passed to appose the wound. The conjunctival flap is hinged to the corneal end of the loop so the conjunctival flap covers the wound when the suture is tied. The wound is thus sealed by conjunctiva with optimum suture tension. This suture was applied in 5 patients with clear corneal incisions who developed wound burn during phacoemulsification. All had an uneventful recovery with a sealed wound from the first postoperative day and satisfactory visual outcomes with low residual astigmatism at the final refraction.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.