Objectives: This is a study to determine the relative wound strength of a commercial fibrin tissue adhesive (Beriplast P, Aventis Behring) compared to 10-0 nylon sutures in sealing experimentally induced corneal perforations in cadaver porcine eyes. Methodology: Single Blind Completely Randomized Design. Sixty freshly enucleatedporcine eyes with an average corneal diameter of 11.5 mm were used. These were randomly allocated into the 3.2 mm perforation group (n = 30) and the 5.2 mm perforation group (n = 30). All perforations were made perpendicular to the corneal surface with a standard preset metal keratome at the central portion of the cornea. Fifteen corneal perforations in each group were again randomly sealed with either interrupted nylon 10-0 sutures or Beriplast P (65-115 mg/mL). Intraocular pressure was raised by injecting normal saline into the anterior chamber and determined by a manometer attached to it. The presealing and postsealing leaking pressures were recorded. Wound leak was determined by Seidels test Results: The mean leaking pressure of the 3.2 mm group sealed with nylon suture was 237.47 mm Hg and 237.33 mm Hg for those sealed with fibrin tissue adhesive. The mean leaking pressures of the 5.2-mm group was 1984 mm Hg for both sealing techniques. The difference in leakingpressures of both sealing techniques was not significant using a power of 80 percent to detect a difference of 30 mm Hg Conclusion: The wound strength of corneal perforations sealed with fibrin tissue adhesive, as measured by the leaking pressures, is comparable to that of those sealed with nylon 10-0 sutures in cadaveric porcine eyes. (Author)
WOUND HEALING ; CORNEAL PERFORATION ; FIBRIN TISSUE ADHESIVE/ADVERSE EFFECT ; CADAVER ; NYLONS ; NYLONS/ADVERSE EFFECT ; NYLONS/CLASSIFICATION ; SUTURES/ADVERSE EFFECT ; EYES

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of lid scrub with petroleum jelly versus lid scrub with tea tree oil and tea tree facial wash in patients with symptomatic blepharitis associated with above-normal Demodex counts Methods: Patients with symptomatic anterior blepharitis (AB), meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), or mixed blepharitis (MB) were recruited into the study. Pertinent data, including ocular symptoms and findings, were recorded. Digital photographs of the lid margins were taken. Lash sampling was done using the modified Coston method for lash epilation. Patients with below-normal Demodex counts (DC <5) were excluded while those with DC ≥5 were randomly assigned to one of either treatment regimen: (1) lid scrub with tea tree oil and tea tree facial wash (The Body Wash®, control group), or (2) lid scrub with petroleum jelly (Apollo Pure Petroleum Jelly®, study drug). Lid scrub with the tea tree oil (TTO) or petroleum jelly was administered at the clinic during the initial visit and at 2-week intervals thereafter for 6 weeks. Patients were instructed to apply tea tree (TT) facial wash or petroleum jelly at home on specified intervals daily. DC posttreatment was recorded, and digital photographs of the eyelids were taken at the end of treatment. Results: Thirteen patients were included in the study; 5 in the TTO and 8 petroleum jelly. In the TTO group, 3 patients had decrease in DC and 2 an increase, but all patients reported decrease in the severity and frequency of ocular symptoms. In the petroleum jelly group, 5 patients had decrease in DC after 6 weeks, while the remaining 3 had opposite results. All reported a general improvement in their symptoms. No adverse reactions were observed in either treatment groups. Conclusion Lid scrub with petroleum jelly caused a significant reduction (p<0.05) in Demodex counts compared to lid scrub with tea tree oil and tea tree facial wash. Petroleum jelly may have some effect in the eradication of Demodex mites in cases of Demodex-induced blepharitis. Although lid scrub with petroleum jelly and tea tree oil and tea tree facial wash both produced a decrease in Demodex counts and a decrease in the frequency and severity of ocular symptoms after 6 weeks of treatment, the presence of some conflicting results suggests that further studies with more patients should be initiated.
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction ; Petrolatum ; Tea Tree Oil