A Purse-String Suture for Penetrating Keratoplasty Following Radial Keratotomy

As the prevalence of radial keratotomy for myopia increases, more cases are undergoing penetrating keratoplasty. Radial keratotomy incisions are known to show incomplete wound healing. When the radial corneal radial keratotomy incisions are cut by the corneal trephine, the peripheral part of each incision frequently opens, even years after the radial keratotomy surgery. A case is presented that describes the use of a simple purse-string suture to hold the peripheral radial keratotomy incisions closed and stable during penetrating keratoplasty suturing and postoperative healing. The purse-string suture simplifies the corneal transplant surgery, allowing greater precision in suture placement by stabilizing the peripheral cornea.