Stitches out - relief

I just wanted to share this. I had a right eye trabeculectomy in 2018 due to eye pressure peaking at 50+. It did a great job of getting my eye pressure down to low teens but since then I've had constant dry eye issues despite a rigorous cleaning and maintenance schedule, and every type of lubricant known.

Due to increasing irritation over the last week and problems securing a timely NHS appointment despite risk of eye infection, I took a private consultation yesterday. At that appointment, the ophthalmologist removed two stitches from my eye (not pleasant but only took a minute or so) and all I can say today is wow! What a remarkable improvement!

[muddledme]

Very interesting, I wonder how many irritated eyes are due to surgical sutures ?

I have a micro shunt in each eye. The consultant thought that the irritation may be the shunt itself. Were your eyes continously sore or did the irritation come and go ?

My eyes are fine in the morning but always worse after I have been using the computer, have been indoors a lot, and in the early evening. Lubricating drops help a bit.

[Hidden in reply to muddledme]

The soreness would come and go. The last week the irritation saw my eyelid swell up, which is a rare event. On a regular day it would start off a little dry first thing in the morning, generally be okay throughout the day, and then start drying out again by around 9pm. I always use night ointment in that eye at bedtime to prevent damage. I'm hoping once things settle down I'll be able to stop using it.

I was advised to use hot compresses to help natural lubrication, but I actually found cold compresses to be far more helpful. I keep an eye bag in the freezer and use it as necessary.

[muddledme in reply to Hidden]

Useful to hear that you found the cold compresses better than the hot ones.

I use the hot eye bag every evening , so I may try the cold method instead.

Perhaps if your eyelid was swollen it was a little inflamed , then I imagine the cool pack would feel more comfortable.

Anyway so pleased it has improved.

[Lovemy2woofs]

Glad that removing two stitches has sorted it out for you, but sad that you had to resort to private , when it could easily have been rectified by NHS, by same procedure .It’s scary times with NHS , so many backlogs and long delays .

Tea bags may help if eye inflamed as contains Tannin a natural anti inflammatory .

[Hidden in reply to Lovemy2woofs]

It is a real concern. At the moment I'm meant to be checked up every 6 weeks, my last appointment was January, and having chased it I've just had my next appointment confirmed for July. The private consultant said I do need another procedure in theatre, I worry at how long the wait for that might be.

[Longwalks3]

I too have suffered badly from dry eyes and irritation after surgery. I’ve had a lot of procedures over the last 3 years involving stitches in the eye and my experience is that it can take several years for some sutures to start causing a problem. I always find that I get white mucus in my eye if it is a stitch causing irritation - that’s how I know it is not just dry eye.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hi, Sorry that you had experienced so much discomfort but glad it is now rectified.

We speak to so many people who have appointments delayed over this covid period and just accept what they are told by the appointments desk and they will hear when an appointment in available. It is always worth calling the eye secretary rather than the appointment dept. They can look at your notes and relay any concerns you have regarding your treatment to the consultant and get back to you.

[Hidden in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

Thanks. I think if a situation arises again in future I will try that route.