The effect of eye patching on sclerostomy wound architecture in 25-gauge sutureless pars plana vitrectomy: A randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of postoperative eye patching on the sclerostomy wound architecture in 25-gauge sutureless pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). DESIGN: Single-blind prospective randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Twenty-eight subjects who underwent 25-gauge sutureless PPV were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 14) or the control group (n = 14). The intervention group received postoperative eye patching for approximately 24 hours, whereas the control group received an eye shield. The sclerostomy wound architecture was examined postoperatively at day 1, week 1, and month 1 using anterior segment optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: The outer diameter of the sclerotomy wound in the intervention group was generally smaller than in the control group: day 1 (194.0 [IQR: 51] μm vs 107.5 [IQR: 44] μm, P = 0.285), week 1 (69.1 ± 18.4 μm vs 72.8 ± 26.1 μm, P = 0.667), and month 1 (44.2 ± 12.0 μm vs 52.9 ± 13.6 μm, P = 0.086). A similar difference was also observed in the inner diameter: day 1 (78.5 [IQR: 45] μm vs 85.0 [IQR: 121] μm, P = 0.946), week 1 (71.0 [IQR: 32] μm vs 63.0 [IQR: 42] μm, P = 0.874), and month 1 (44.2 ± 12.0 μm vs 53.0 ± 13.6 μm, P = 0.086). However, the result was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Postoperative eye patching facilitates scleral healing and has a role in protecting the scleral wound during the vulnerable immediate postoperative period. It demonstrated better healing characteristics of the wound compared to the control group.