Sutures

[Kirsten]

Hi everyone.
Well today I got a surprise..
I visited the optometrist for my intacs 3 wks post op appt. I couldn't get in to the place I had my surgery done - don't ask.. major appointment issues!
So anyway.. he checked my eye and at 1st thought i'd got an eyelash stuck, then realised there's actually a suture. The surgeon never mentioned this to me, so i'm not even sure how long it was meant to stay there.
Apparently this is the reason my eye has been sore lately because it's started to surface. I was told that it's quite urgent to have removed since it may cause an infection. He called and spoke to the ppl where my op was performed and they insisted they couldn't fit me in today. I'm at uni tomorrow and the only time they could fit me in wouldn't allow me to get there. It's 1st week of classes so I can't miss it.
At the moment I have no idea how I'm going to get this thing out. I called another surgeon but he wont do it for legal reasons.
Just a quick question though. Aren't stitches that are used in your eyes generally dissolvable? I was hoping it might fall out on it's own, but don't like my chances!
Kirsten

[John Smith]

Hi Kirsten,

When I had my PK graft, I was told that the stitches would be removed sometime between 6 months and three years. And that they had to be removed, as otherwise they might start to dissolve... and "we wouldn't want bits of stitch floating around in the eye, would we?" is a phrase that has stuck in my mind!

Hope you get yours sorted out soon.

[Kirsten]

LOL thanks for the quick reply John. I bet that phrase has stuck in your mind!
It's only been 3 wks, but I think the fact it's risen to the surface is the main concern. Plus that it's rubbing on my eyelid and causing pain.

[GarethB]

With intacs, only one or two sutures are used to close the incision where the intacs were put in.

When it comes to health and KC, not sure how they work in Australia, but in the UK they would make allowances for unplanned trips to the hospital for cases such as yours.

If it were me or my daughter, I would get the stitch sorted and then comes the education.

[Kirsten]

I had one intacs segment put in for my 1st operation and had no stitches at all.. but then 3 mths later had a 2nd segment added. He didn't use the laser because he said the channel was already there and the intac just needed to be slipped in - for some reason a suture was needed this time though.

The problem is that I didn't have it done in a hospital as such. I mean technically it is one.. but it's really a private practice. You feel like you're in a production line! They don't seem to care when you have problems, it's like the more lasik patients they can get through the better because they are paying a lot more.

As far as uni goes. If it wasn't 1st week back i'd definitely make this my priority. I really need to settle back in without worrying about what i've missed. Plus I don't know anyone in that class as I'm taking it as an elective, so getting notes would be impossible.

If only I could've got an earlier appointment it would've been fine. There and back is close to 3 hrs on the train, although where I was today was only about 20 minutes away.. that's what annoyed me the most!

[GarethB]

Understand now.

From the presentation the Midlands group had on intacs it was suggested a suture where the incision is made is the done thing and removed once the incision has healed. My understanding was that the chanel would heal should the intact be removed.

Is it possible for the tutors to prepare some notes for you so that you do not missout?

[Andrew MacLean]

Kirsten

This look s tough! I had always thought that private surgery meant that everything was tailored to the patient's diary: not where you are, it seems.

I hope you manage to get something sorted.

Andrew

[Kirsten]

They probably could've prepared the notes for me, but I have absolutely no idea who the lecturer/tutors are! It's an elective in a completely different school in the university, so tomorrow is a real introduction.

I just can't believe there was no way possible to fit me in today. How long can taking out a suture take? My optometrist said it was 2 minutes max, some anaesthetising drops and then it just gets pulled straight out.

I don't expect things to be tailored to me as such, but just a little bit of flexibility wouldn't go astray.

The whole reason I was at my regular optometrist today was because I couldn't see the surgeon. They wanted me to go in on Wednesday afternoon (my other day at uni)..

Then for my other eye that I had scheduled in, I made the post op appointment 2 mths in advance.. yet there was apparently nothing available at the 3 week mark. So my 3 week post op is at 5 weeks. It's really getting ridiculous - so many dramas!

[Karl R]

It's only been 3 wks, but I think the fact it's risen to the surface is the main concern. Plus that it's rubbing on my eyelid and causing pain.

I've felt my 2 stitches since I had the op done 8 Feb. The best way of describing it is like having a combination of eyelashes and grit in the eye. There are times, like you, that this becomes painful on the eyelid but I have found that using Pred Forte drops 4 hourly helps.

My stitches are coming out on the 23rd March on my next follow up appointment, which will be 6 weeks post op

[Kirsten]

Mine isn't really like grit - more like a deep ache sometimes.. like when your eyes get really dry and tired. It's hard to explain.

I just checked and as far as I can tell the pred forte is the same as the voltaren i'd been taking .. both are anti-inflammatorys. I hated the voltaren though. It stings really bad and did the same thing after my 1st op.

I was only meant to use that and the ciloxan (anti-biotic) for a week after the op. Since i've been told there's a chance of infection till this stitch is removed i've started to use the ciloxan again though. I figure it's best to be on the safe side..