UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi,

I'm due to get my stictches removed this month and understand what the proceedure is.

But I wanted to know from those who have had stitches removed;

What can I expect?
How long did it take?
How long were you of work?
What kind of medication where you given after?

many thanks

"Piece of string" answer I am afraid.

I had my 16 stitches removed in two batches of eight. This involved a visit to hospital, a trip to theatre and the application of local anesthetic to the eye. I lay on the gurney on which I had been trolleyed from the ward and looked up into the business end of the theatre microscope.

Music was playing.

My Ophthalmologist cut and removed the sutures while a nurse held my hand. My time in the theatre was over in about twenty minutes. I felt no pain, and was able to count the sutures out as they were removed. In all I do not think I could even call the experience unpleasant. Sitting about waiting to be called was a bit of a bore, but no more so than waiting for a late train!

I was off work for the afternoon.

All the best

Andrew

Expect what Andrew described, it does not take long except waiting your turn, never had time off work except the day went to get stitches out and never had any medication.

Did use common sense and did not go down the sewers for a couple of days which at that time was part of my work.

Waiting is difficult because depending on the level of sight you have it is not always possible to have enough vision to read!

This was the case when I had my first eye done. Second was fine because I then had one eye to see with.

Hello Mate

My experience was a hell of a lot better than I would have ever thought!


What can I expect?

Anaesthetic Drops, Head on Slit Lamp, Optham gets something similar to cotton bud, uses that to open the respective lid up....tells you to look at a particular spot....and he will use the extremely fine instrument to come in from the side and cut the stitch..all you will experience is the Twang......and then he MAY use tweezers to remve the suture....


How long did it take?

Mine took around 10 mins total.....for around 5 sutures


How long were you of work?

Was back at work in 45 mins......

What kind of medication where you given after?

They advise to take Chloramphenical for around 3 days....

In one graft I had a continuous stitch, in the other individual ones.

Not sure how long it took to remove the continuous one but it was done in an ordinary examination room. The person doing it got called away twice which was very disconcerting as I didn't know how he'd left my eye each time so I dare not blink. Not knowing exactly what was happening made it mentally an unpleasant experience but physically it was fine - not at all how you imagine someone messing with your eye like that might feel. There was a bit of tugging but it was no big deal (having a stitch out now doesn't bother me one iota). My eye was very sore afterwards but within a day or so was fine again.

The most I've had out in one go in the individual stitches eye is three. My eye was uncomfortably sore for the rest of the day. If I have one stitch out the soreness is barely noticeable.

I'm always prescribed chloramphenical to use for a few days afterwards.

All,

You've eased my concerns more.

Lets hope that I have no complications and I'm first in the que. Then again I'll take the PSP for company

My Opthal takes stirches out to reshap the cornea. Sometimes it is 3 or 4 sometimes 1 or 2 sometimes none. My mum always drives me thw 3.5 hours to my appointments and the question is always afterwards "any stitches out today". with 2 daughters post graft, she is an old hat.
He uses anaesthetic drops, head on the slit lamp and tells me to open wide, where to look and uses a scalpel and tweezers. He has very steady hands.
My eye can occasionally be a little uncomfortable after, but I would never say I was in pain.
With my continuous it is usually a 10 minute theatre visit.
So for me the interupteds are seconds, no longer than a normal consult including the consult.
Even my total squib of a sister can handle having stiches out.

Hi all,

On Monday I had 13 out 16 stitches taken out of my grafted eye. Why on 13, well 3 were to in-beded in the eye and could be pulled out. Hopefully in time they will become loser and they will be able to remove the stitches.

Apart from that I am good. Eye was very sore on Monday evening, but that could have been expected. They have increased my vexol eye drops to 4 times a day for the next 4 weeks. Which is when I should be going back for a check up once agan.

Any thanks for all your previous posts they were most helpful.

Dipesh

I have noticed that in Ophthalmology they are very relaxed about stitches getting stuck in people's eyes. I guss it is a case of the lesser of two evils: something inert like an ophthalmological suture is not going to do any harm, tugging and pulling at something that has become part of the eye might!

All the best

Andrew

Nearly 20 years on I am told I still have a few stitches embedded and they cause me no problems at all.

Just thing of them as long term support