Effect of different suture conjunctiva flap on early tear film function after trabeculectomy

Objective To observe the roles of exposed and embeded threads in the head of sutures conjunctiva flap on early tear film function after trabeculectomy. Methods A 100 glaucoma patients (136 eyes) with fornix based conjunctival flap in trabecula resection at Eye Institute of Xuzhou from December 2012 to October 2014 were randomly divided into two groups. Group A: 50 cases (67 eyes) of conjunctival suture thread exposed; group B: 50 cases (69 eyes) of conjunctival suture implanting head bag. The symptoms and signs of dry eye disease, tear break-up time (BUT), Schirmer I test and corneal fluorescein staining of tear film function were analyzed. Results Between the two groups, in foreign body sensation at 1 day and 1 week, dryness at 1 day and 1 month and photophobia at 1 day, 1 week and 2 weeks after surgery, the differences were statistically significant (P 0.05). Between the two groups, BUT after surgery showed no significant difference (P >0.05), While in schirmer I after surgery and corneal fluorescein staining, the differences were statistically significant (P <0.05). Conclusions There are differences on early tear function at the fornix based conjunctival flap by exposed thread and implanting head of suture methods. Effects of the embedding suture method on early tear film function is relatively small. Key words: Adjustable suture; Trabeculectomy; Suture; Tear film