Tape Splint Tarsorrhaphy for Persistent Corneal Epithelial Defects

Abstract

To report outcomes of tape splint tarsorrhaphy (TST) for persistent corneal epithelial defects (PCED). Retrospective, interventional case series. The study population was consecutive patients with a PCED (14 days or longer) treated at a tertiary cornea clinic with TST. Patients with a corneal epithelial defect that did not respond to treatment with a bandage contact lens were included. Patients with a follow-up time of less than 3 months were excluded. Time to PCED resolution was the main outcome measure. Thirty-four eyes of 33 patients (mean age 62.9 ± 17.8 years; range, 27-90 years) were included in this study. The main etiologies of the PCED were post keratoplasty (n=15), herpes simplex virus (n=4), superficial keratectomy (n=3), neurotrophic cornea (n=4), fungal keratitis (n=2), exposure keratopathy (n=2), failed graft (n=1), peripheral ulcerative keratitis (n=1), rosacea (n=1), and stitch abscess (n=1). Mean ± SD time from PCED presentation to TST was 58.9 ± 106.3 days (range, 14-390 days). The mean ± SD area of the PCED was 25.1 ± 15.7 mm2 (range, 0.50-42.0 mm2). After TST, resolution of the PCED was achieved in 29/34 eyes (85.3%) without the need for additional interventions within 22.5 ± 24.3 days (range, 2-105 days). The mean ± SD logMAR best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly from 1.11 ± 0.41 to 0.83 ± 0.70 (P=.02). There were no complications attributed to TST and 2 patients elected to discontinue due to discomfort. TST achieved resolution of PCEDs secondary to various etiologies in 85.3% of eyes, with significant improvement in vision demonstrated. This simple, inexpensive, noninvasive technique may be considered for patients with PCEDs.