CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE WITH CYANOACRYLATE TISSUE ADHESIVE

In this paper 385 cases treated with cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive dur ing the years 1980-1995 are studied. The indications, outcomes and com plications of cyanoacrylate adhesive are investigated and the results are analysed. It is encouraging that except for three cases of ocular hypotony and two cases of microbial infection no other complications o ccurred. Even in desperate cases with corneal perforation greater than 3 mm and ocular infection, enucleation was avoided. The early use of a bandage contact lens, inserted just after the glue application and t he coverage with topical antibiotics switched every 15 days until the removal of the glue, may explain the small incidence of infection. Our experience from the use of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive in cases wit h corneal perforation greater than 3 mm is very encouraging. In these cases a running 10.0 nylon suture was used to create a reticulum over the space of the corneal perforation upon which the glue was applied. The use of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive offers to the clinician a saf e technique for healing corneal wounds that avoids tectonic penetratin g keratoplasty with its associated complications.