To evaluate the effects of scleral suture for the sclerotomy wound leakage and the clinical outcomes in 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy with fluid-air exchange.

A retrospective, comparative chart review of 75 eyes of 75 patients who underwent 23-gauge transconjunctival vitrecomy with fluid air exchange was performed. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the scleral suture used at the end of the operation, sclera-sutured group and sutureless group. The amount of intraocular gas remnants was measured to compare the degree of sclerotomy wound leakage and the postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) and reoperation rate were analyzed.

The mean IOP on postoperative day 1, 7 and 14 was 15.5 ± 4.0 mm Hg in the sclera-sutured group and 15.8 ± 6.2 mm Hg in the sutureless group, without statistical difference ( p = 0.874). The percentage of intraocular gas remnants in eyes on postoperative day 1 was significantly higher in the sclera-sutured group (92.9 ± 9.7%) than in the sutureless group (82.4 ± 16.2%; p = 0.002) as well as on postoperative days 7 and 14. The reoperation rate was not statistically significantly different between the sclera-sutured group (6.5%) and sutureless group (9.1%; p = 0.683)

In the cases of 23-gauge sutureless vitrectomy with fluid-air exchange, the scleral suture may be effective to prevent the sclerotomy wound leakage and maintain the intraocular gas longer, but there was no statistically significant difference in the final success rate between the 2 groups. However, as more intraocular gas remained in the sclera-sutured group than in the sutureless group statistically, the scleral suture should be considered in cases that require long-term gas tamponade.