Comparison of Tensile Strength of Fibrin Glue, 2-Octyl Cyanoacrylate, Liquid Ocular Bandage, and Conventional Nylon 10-0 Sutures in Corneal Laceration Repair in an Animal Model

Objective: To compare the tensile strength of fibrin glue, 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, and liquid ocular bandage to conventional nylon 10-0 sutures in sealing central linear corneal lacerations. Methods: An experimental in-vitro study was performed on 74 porcine eyes. A 27-gauge needle connected to an infusion system with balanced salt solution was inserted into the anterior chamber and the bottle height was adjusted accordingly. Full-thickness central corneal lacerations were created using a 3.2 mm keratome knife for the initial incision and enlarged by a 5.2 mm knife. The wounds were sealed with fibrin glue (Tisseel®),­ 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (Dermabond®), liquid ocular bandage (OcuSealTM),­ and nylon 10-0 with 3 sutures. Tensile strength of the wounds was measured by recording the bottle height above the level of the porcine eyes before leakage was detected and this was converted to IOP values. One-way ANOVA and post hoc t-test were used to analyze the data. Results: Mean maximum IOP where leakage was resisted for the nylon 10-0 suture group was 52.37 ± 7.16 mm Hg. The mean maximum resisted IOP for the fibrin glue, 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, and liquid ocular bandage was 46.34 ± 12.64 mm Hg, 55.13 ± 10.46 mm Hg, and 56.99 ± 8.27 mm Hg respectively. There was no significant difference between the sutures and all of the adhesives groups (p=0.08, p=0.34, and p=0.08) and between 2-octyl cyanoacrylate and liquid ocular bandage (p=0.57). 2-Octyl cyanoacrylate and liquid ocular bandage demonstrated higher mean IOP as compared to the fibrin group (p = 0.024 and p = 0.007). Conclusion: Fibrin glue,­ 2-octyl cyanoacrylate,­ and liquid ocular bandage were shown to be effective in sealing 5.2 mm linear corneal lacerations, with 2-octyl cyanoacrylate and liquid ocular bandage being superior to the fibrin glue.