Nonabsorbable suture material in corneoscleral sections--a comparison of novafil and nylon.

We compared a newly available nonabsorbable monofilament ophthalmic suture, 9/0 Novafil (Davis & Geck), with 10/0 nylon (Alcon), currently the most popular suture for closure of corneoscleral sections. Surgery was performed on nine rats and ten rabbits. In each case a 120 degrees corneoscleral section was made in each eye and closed with interrupted sutures of 9/0 Novafil in one eye and 10/0 nylon in the other. We compared their handling qualities during surgery, as well as their effect on postoperative wound inflammation. In addition we examined the suture material from each eye of the rats by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after 3 months, and we compared the surgically induced astigmatism in the rabbits in the two suture groups. Both suture materials were easy to handle and well tolerated. Nylon sutures from six of the eight rat eyes studied showed SEM evidence of surface disintegration after 3 months, whereas all the Novafil sutures remained intact.