Abstract

AbstractEffectiveness of 8–0 chromic collagen suture in ophthalmic microsurgery was evaluated experimentally and clinically. In vitro and in vivo measurements of the physical properties of the material were made using rabbit corneas, and the suture was used in closing corneoscleral sections in 101 routine human cataract operations. Suture diameter ranged from 0.055 to 0.065 mm; average rupture strength was four times that of 10–0 Ethilon and almost twice that of 8–0 silk. Sutured rabbit corneal wounds tolerated intraocular pressures of over 250 mm Hg before rupturing. Over 80% of all sutures used in rabbits, and 95% used in humans, remained in place after two weeks. In the human cataract operation, no operative complications directly attributable to the material, and only six postoperative complications possibly related to the suture or wound approximation, were observed. It was concluded that 8–0 chromic collagen is an acceptable and welcomed addition to the armamentarium of ophthalmic microsurgeons.