Postoperative complications with protruding monofilament nylon sutures

Cut ends of 10-0 monofilament nylon sutures protruded and caused various combinations of severe pain, conjunctival inflammation, tarsal conjunctival ulcerations, eyelid edema, and corneal epithelial erosions in six patients postoperatively. These changes occurred one to three weeks after keratoplasty and one to three months after cataract surgery. In all six patients the signs and symptoms cleared after we trimmed or removed the offending sutures.