Abstract :
Introduction: Tarsorrhaphy has always been advised for management of persistent epithelial defects, but it is losing it’s importance in present era.
Materials and Methods: It was a prospective interventional study. Twenty-one patients of persistent epithelial defects presented over a period of two years at a tertiary hospital. They underwent tarsorrhaphy, along with medical management. All patients were followed up for a minimum period of two months.
Observation: Eighty-five percent of patients with PED resolved with tarsorrhaphy alone. Rest three patients which failed to heal, underwent amniotic membrane transplantation at 4th week as add-on procedure, following which they resolved.
Discussion: Tarsorrhaphy helps in healing of PED by decreasing the interpalpebral fissure and retaining the tears and medicines in cul-de-sac. It also decreases the windshield wiper effect of eyelid margins.
Conclusion: Tarsorrhaphy should always be considered as first modality for treating the PED.
Keyword :
Tarsorrhaphy, Persistent epithelial defects (PED).