Octyl 2-cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive in experimental scleral buckling

Purpose: In this experimental study, a sutureless scleral buckling was performed by using a tissue adhesive glue to fixate a silicone band to the sclera. In fact, one of the major risks of traditional scleral buckling is accidental perforation of the bulb, which is more frequent when the sclera is extremely thin as it is in newborns or in eyes with high myopia or scleromalacia.

Methods: An encircling band of silicone, which is generally anchored to the sclera itself, was sutured in 36 rabbit eyes to three small silastic patches that had been glued to the sclera, at the level of the equator, using octyl 2-cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive. In this manner the anchoring sutures passed through silicone and silicone. The band was tightened to produce buckling of the sclera and its ends were glued together using the same adhesive.

Results: Examination of the eyes from 15 days to 6 months after surgery revealed that the buckle was stable, with no signs of slippage, in 33 eyes. In the remaining 3 (one examined after 15 days, 2 examined after 45 days), one of the three support patches had become detached but there was still no evidence of slippage.

Conclusions: The stability of the buckle up to six months after surgery suggests that this new adhesive might be used for sutureless surgery in certain types of retinal detachment, such as that associated with stage 4 ROP in which the encircling band has to be removed after several months.