Preventing symblepharon formation with a gelatin sponge in the eye of a patient with an alkali burn.

Abstract

To report a patient with symblepharon caused by an alkali injury whom we treated by using a gelatin sponge. Four days after the burn, a gelatin sponge was inserted into the upper conjunctival sac to separate the raw conjunctival surfaces. The gelatin sponge adhered to the tarsal side of the upper fornix and was kept there for 11 days until no epithelial defect was visible in the bulbar conjunctiva. No symblepharon formation was observed 6 months after the injury. Application of a gelatin sponge proved to be a simple and effective way of preventing symblepharon formation after an alkali burn.