OBJECTIVE: To determine the bonding strength of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (Dermabond) compared with N-Butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl) and nylon 10-0 (Alcon,) in sealing experimentally induced corneal perforations in cadaver porcine eyes. METHODS: This is a single-blind, randomized, physical experimental study involving 78 freshly enucleated porcine eyes in which perforations of 3.0 and 5.1 mm were made in the cornea and randomly sealed with either interrupted nylon 10-0 (n=13), Dermabond (n=13), or Histoacryl (n=13). Intraocular pressures were raised by injecting normal saline into the anterior chamber and postsealing leaking pressures were measured using a precalibrated manometer attached to the anterior chamber maintainer. Fishers Exact Test was used to determine the difference in proportion of eyes that leaked, and Wilcoxon signed ranked test to compare the mean leaking pressures. RESULTS: In the 3.0 mm group, the proportion of eyes that leaked in Dermabond (2/13, 15.4 percent) and Histoacryl (1/13, 7.7 percent) were comparable (p=1.00). Proportion of leak in nylon 10-0 (13/13, 100 percent) was significantly higher (p0.001). Mean leaking pressures of Dermabond (79.5 mm Hg) and Histoacryl (88.0 mm Hg) were higher compared with that of nylon 10-0 (61.44 mm Hg) (p 0.05). In the 5.1 mm group, proportion of eyes that leaked in Dermabond (4/13, 30.8 percent) and Histoacryl (2/13, 15.4 percent) were comparable (p=0.07 AND P=0.10). CONCLUSION: The bonding strengths of Dermabond and Histoacryl are comparable and greater than that of nylon 10-0. Both are effective for 3.0 mm and 5.1 mm corneal perforations.
Animal ; CYANOACRYLATES ; ENBUCRILATE ; CORNEAL PERFORATION