PURPOSE: To describe the technique of clear-cornea suture removal, that avoids the contact of the external part of the thread with the intraocular medium, and to evaluate whether this procedure would prevent infections. METHODS: A retrospective study of 1.233 cases of clear-cornea mononylon 10.0 suture removal, by the use of an argon laser to cut the thread, was performed. Incidence of infection was then assessed. RESULTS: In 1.071 eyes, one shot was enough to cut the stitch. In 162 eyes, the laser shot hit the epithelial part of the suture, making new shots necessary to cut the intrastromal part, and thus to remove it assuring that the outer part of the stitch would not come in to contact with the interior of the cornea. There were no complications after suture removal. CONCLUSIONS: The technique has shown to be effective in suture removal. And, possibly, presents a lower risk for infection, since the external part of the thread does not come in to contact with the innermost parts of the cornea, or with the anterior chamber. No cases of infection have been observed during this research.
Suture; Cornea; Lasers; Phacoemulsification; Retrospective study
