Gel bandage assists in wound closure after ocular surgery

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — A gel-like ocular bandage applied after surgery may assist with wound closure in lieu of sutures.

The I-Zip Adherent Ocular Bandage (I-Therapeutix) is a synthetic hydrogel made up of more than 85% water that is mixed into a gel formula, similar to an epoxy, and applied to the corneal surface over an open incision, such as after a cataract incision. When first applied, the substance is blue to assist with visualization, but it turns clear as it congeals into a protective barrier over the ocular incision.

"It's like a soft contact lens on the surface of the lens," Y. Ralph Chu, MD, said at Kiawah Eye 2009.

In a small pilot study of 20 patients at two sites, Dr. Chu said that the ocular bandage remained in place more effectively after 24 hours compared with a soft collagen shield. The ocular bandage was as comfortable, in terms of pain, as the soft collagen shield, he said.

"Most of the time, material lasts 3 to 5 days. Only trace amounts were present beyond 7 days," Dr. Chu said, who added that no adverse events were reported.

The product is already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in neurosurgery and vascular surgery. A phase 3 trial has been initiated to test its applicability in ocular surgery, Dr. Chu said.

Kiawah Eye 2010 will be held May 13-15, 2010 at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina. Learn more at KiawahEye.com.