Seal with Steel

Abstract

A 32-year-old male presented with a 15-year history of left eye exotropia following penetrating ocular trauma and vitreoretinal surgery. Examination revealed intact, unexposed metallic sutures beneath the conjunctiva, identified as surgical-grade stainless steel. Despite their limited current use due to handling difficulty and potential complications, the sutures remained stable and asymptomatic over 15 years. This case highlights the long-term biocompatibility of stainless steel sutures and supports their selective use in complex ocular trauma requiring durable structural support.