• Amir Hadayer, Yehonatan Weinberger, Tal Corina Sela, Orly Gal-Or, Dov Weinberger, and Rita Ehrlich.
• Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Campus), Petah Tikva, Israel, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
• Isr Med Assoc J. 2023 Sep 1; 25 (9): 608611608-611.

BackgroundDuring combined phacovitrectomy, it is common practice to suture the main corneal incision to prevent intraoperative and postoperative wound leak. However, it may be possible to avoid suturing using a self-sealing corneal incision technique as in standard cataract surgery.ObjectivesTo evaluate the clinical outcome, safety, and complications of combined phacovitrectomy without preventive suturing.MethodsThis retrospective case series study included consecutive patients who underwent combined phacovitrectomy between January 2018 and June 2019 for mixed indications. Surgeries were performed at a tertiary university hospital. All surgeries were performed by the same two retinal surgeons. Cataract surgery was performed first, followed by insertion of trocars and vitrectomy. Corneal sutures were not planned but were used at the discretion of the surgeon.ResultsThe cohort included 106 eyes of 102 patients. Suturing of the main corneal incision was deemed necessary in five cases (5%) because of a main incision leak or anterior chamber shallowing during trocar insertion. No other complications related to the absence of prophylactic corneal sutures were encountered during surgery or follow-up.ConclusionsPreventive corneal suturing may not be necessary in combined phacovitrectomy surgery and can be used in the few cases in which it is indicated during surgery.

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