Tissue adhesives in ocular surgery

Tissue adhesive sealants have been used as substitutes for sutures in ophthalmic surgery in recent years since the latter may cause irritation, inflammation and infection. Tissue adhesives were developed as suture adjuncts and alternatives for sealing wounded tissues. They are gaining popularity for their ease of use and postoperative comfort. Two broad classes of tissue adhesives, synthetic and biological, have been reported in previous studies. Cyanoacrylate-based synthetic tissue adhesives have been conventionally used for corneal perforation surgeries. Fibrin glue is a bioadhesive developed from blood plasma. Aside from these surface sealants, a new class of compounds termed biodendrimers has also found a use in ophthalmic surgery. Other adhesives in development include acrylic-based adhesives, polyethylene glycol hydrogels, chondroitin sulfate, riboflavin-fibrinogen compounds, photoactivated serum albumin solder and photopolymerized hyaluronic acid compounds. This article aims to cover the therapeutic uses and application techniques of the aforementioned tissue adhesives in ophthalmology.