Scanning electron microscopic study of Dacron degradation by ocular tissue extracts.

A scanning electron microscopic study showed that the surface of Dacron thread became significantly roughened after treatment with bovine iris-ciliary body extracts. The Dacron-degrading factor in the extract was nondialysable, heat-labile, and active at an acidic pH, suggesting that lysosomal enzymes may be a factor in this phenomenon. Bovine extracts from the iris, ciliary body, and sensory retina degraded the surface of Dacron most substantially, while the Dacron surface was moderately digested by extracts from the cornea and retinal pigment epithelium. Lenticular and choroidal extracts did not affect the Dacron surface. Possibly the factor that degrades Dacron may be different from that which affects nylon, and the Dacron suture may not be preferable for corneal surgery.