Eyelid laceration

I recently had a 20mm long laceration to my left lower eyelid sutured, which involved disolvable stitches beneathe the skin and removable stiches above. After 7 days i had the stitches removed and the laceration seemed to be heeling successfully. After a couple of days i began to notice a lump had swelled up beneathe the laceration. I returned to the hospital a couple of days later, they informed me that the lump may be due to my body not reacting to well to the disolvable stiches beneathe the skin. I got given maxitrol ointment to rub into the laceration. A week has past and the lump is still present. Although the contents of the lump (a bloody, clear liquid) occasionally ooses out of the laceration. I'm just concerned whether this swelling is normal for this type of injury and if so, how long does it usually take to heel up?

Many Thanks

Tim

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear Lindley,

A bump following an absorbable suture might represent an inflammatory reaction; and might take some weeks to diminish in size. I would return to an eyeMD to examine the lesion due to the discharge.

Dr. Feldman

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California