Newly–Developed Multicoated Quartz Contact Lens for Bimanual Vitreoretinal Surgery

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose:To describe the advantages of a newly–developed multicoated quartz contact lens for use in bimanual three port or two port vitrectomy systems. Methods: The lens is made from quartz with a refractive index of 1.46 and an Abbe number of 67.7. The lens is a three layer coated, plano–convex with a 20° prism. The transmittance of light is 96.5% which yields a brighter fundus field of 7.02 mm in diameter (HOYA Tokyo). Vitreous surgery was performed under operating microscope with a slit–lamp microscope (Leica or Zeiss). This system was used for vitrectomies in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) or for proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Results: No reflection of the microscope light from the contact lens was observed. The visual field of view was slightly restricted, however the brightness was nearly the same as that with light pipe illumination. The X–Y control system of the microscope was used to compensate for the reduced visual field. There was no need to change the angular direction of the slit–lamp illumination when fixed to 7°. The bimanual system allowed us to remove proliferative tissues of PDR and PVR cases more easily and safely. Conclusions:Our vitrectomy system with a new contact lens and slit–lamp illumination should be beneficial for vitreoretinal surgery.

Keywords: retinal detachment • diabetic retinopathy • proliferative vitreoretinopathy