Abstract

Retrospective Study
Wound hydration is a standard protocol followed by most phacosurgeons to prevent wound leaks. To see if wound hydration & its consequences can be avoided, 500 cataract patients operated by a single senior phacosurgeon were analyzed. After a standard phacosurgery, half chamber air bubble was injected without hydrating the side ports & main wound. Wound integrity was checked by pressing on cornea with blunt instrument. Eye pad was applied which was removed after 1 hour. Cornea was clear, anterior chamber deep, IOP within normal range, air bubble was present.
Patients with any intraoperative or pre-existing ocular complications were excluded from the study.
Sterile eye pad prevents exposure to external agents during critical time of wound healing. Initial wound edema causes incision lips to approximate with fibroblastic proliferation causing wound to self seal.
We found that only 3 patients had minimum hypotony, who also recovered on keeping the eye pad for 24 hours.