Comparing fibrin glue to sutures for conjunctival closure in pars plana vitrectomy.

PURPOSE To evaluate whether fibrin glue causes less postoperative pain, discomfort and work inaptitude in conjunctival closure following 20 gauge pars plana vitrectomy than sutures. DESIGN Retrospective study. METHODS A questionnaire was sent in 2006 to 506 patients who underwent 20 gauge pars plana vitrectomy in 2004 at the University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium. Patients were asked about their postoperative pain and discomfort of the eye and the duration of their work inaptitude. RESULTS Our results showed a shorter duration of the eye being reddish (p-value 0.0471), discomfort of the eye (p-value 0.0376) and using an ointment (p-value 0.0105) in the glue group. The glue group used less ointment (p-value 0.0038) and independent workers had a shorter work inaptitude after receiving glue (p-value 0.0292). If patient had vitrectomy without cerclage, they had less pain on the first postoperative day when having received glue (p-value 0.0340). CONCLUSIONS Fibrin glue causes less postoperative pain, discomfort and work inaptitude for closure of conjunctival wounds in 20 gauge pars plana vitrectomy than sutures. Fibrin glue appears in our hands to be a better alternative to sutures for closure of conjunctival wounds in 20 gauge pars plana vitrectomy.