Suture Tension Adjustment of Single Running Suture in Penetrating Keratoplasty

ABSTRACT

We performed suture tension adjustment (STA) in 8 patients who had undergone penetrating keratoplasty with 10-0 nylon running suture closure. 3 to 8 weeks after the surgery, STA was done by loosening the suture tension at the steep meridian and tightening at the flat meridian, guided by automatic keratometery, keratoscopic finding and manifest refraction. Pre-STA astigmatism of 6.27 +/- 1.84 diopter(D) was changed to 1.94 +/- 1.40D immediately after the adjustment. Post-STA astigmatism regressed mostly within two weeks of adjustment, remaining stable thereafter In one case, suture breakage occurred during adjustment, and resuturing was done using a new 10-0 nylon tied to the broken ends without serious sequela.