Purpose:
To evaluate an autoclavable multipurpose multicomponentwide–angle contact lens for Vitreous surgery.
Methods:
The wide–angle contact lens is made of autoclavablehigh index plastic material (1.88). It has three lens pieceswithin a plastic casing. The inferior lens is made of convexacrylic with a radius of curvature (ROC) of 7.7 mm anda dioptricpower of 119D. The superior glass lens has a convex superiorsurface of 6.95 mm ROC. The inferior lens is mounted on thecase to make the wide–angle assembly (Figure 1, 2). Thebenefit of this lens system is that the lens can be used inboth contact and non contact modes. While the lens assemblyis used as the conventional wide–angle vitrectomy lenssystem, the lens is kept on the cornea upon a drop of viscoelasticsubstance. An assistant holds the lens with the conventionallens holder.
Results:
The new lens enables the surgeon to have a stable magnifiedview of the central retina and ability to address the peripheralretina as well. The field of view of the wide–angle lensis 146 degrees static and 157 degrees dynamic view. This isa result of high index material used in the manufacturing ofthe lens. The lens is easy to sterilize by autoclaving and doesnot require the expensive gas sterilization or potential injuriouschemical sterilization.
Conclusions:
This is one of the initial conventional wide–anglelenses that can be autoclaved for sterilization purposes. Theother advantage of this lens system is that a single lens canbe used as a concavo–convex high magnifying lens for preciseposterior pole surgery and wide–angle lens for peripheralvitreous surgery as well as in examination of the patient atthe slit lamp.
Keywords: vitreous • contact lens • optical properties