THE MANAGEMENT OF POSTKERATOPLASTY ASTIGMATISM BY POSTOPERATIVE ADJUSTMENT OF A SINGLE CONTINUOUS SUTURE

Penetrating keratoplasty was performed in 39 consecutive patients. A 1 6 bite 10-0 nylon continuous suture was used. Post-operatively, the su ture was adjusted to reduce astigmatism, as determined by refraction, keratoscopy and keratometry. Suture adjustment was performed if astigm atism was over 4 dioptres (D). The suture was tightened in the flatter meridian and loosened in the steeper meridian. Twenty-one patients ha d suture adjustment performed. Prior to adjustment, mean (+/- standard deviation) astigmatism measured 6.33 +/- 1.38 D. Following adjustment , mean astigmatism was significantly reduced to 2.69 +/- 1.14 D (p<0.0 001). The average final astigmatism for the entire group was 2.66 +/- 1.12 D. The use of a continuous adjustable suture in penetrating kerat oplasty significantly reduced the post-operative astigmatism in a grou p of patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty.