Pupil-expansion ring implantation through a 0.9 mm incision

Abstract

Disposable square and hexagonal Bhattacharjee pupil-expansion rings are made of 5-0 nylon, have notches at the corners, and flanges at the sides in a single 0.1 mm thin plane. To insert the ring, a flange is held with a 23-gauge forceps and the ring is inserted through a 0.9 mm (20-gauge) or larger main- or side-port incision. Alternate flanges are tucked under the iris using a Kuglen hook. A 23-gauge forceps and an iris hook can also be used to tuck the flanges bimanually. The ring is removed by disengaging 2 notches and pulling it out of a 0.9 mm (20-gauge) incision. No snagging of the incision occurs at insertion or removal. No injector is required. The device is useful in standard coaxial phacoemulsification, femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, biaxial microincision cataract surgery (MICS), coaxial sub-2.0 mm MICS, and small-pupil microincision vitreous surgery and in eyes with shallow anterior chambers. Dr. Bhattacharjee has a pending international patent application (PCT-WIPO) for the pupil-expansion devices.