Three groups of patients were reviewed 1, 2 and 3 years after extracapsular cataract extraction to assess the incidence of problems related to nylon corneal sutures and the need for suture removal. A large percentage of patients were found to have suture-related problems and required or had previously undergone suture removal. These findings are analysed. The potential risk of sight-threatening pathology associated with corneal sutures that are left in situ suggests that routine suture removal about 3 months after surgery is to be recommended.