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Several types of ophthalmic knives are used to perform different eye surgeries.
Keratomes
Ophthalmic keratomes are used to make the corneal incision required in cataract surgery. Most keratomes are equipped with an automatic cutting system and a shield for the patient's protection.
Capsulotomy Forceps
These forceps are fitted with a blade in the shape of a ring. Therefore, capsulotomy forceps are used to cut the posterior capsule of the lens during cataract extraction. Ciliary muscle relaxation allows the lens to be removed through small incisions. This is accompanied by phacoemulsification or ultrasound emulsification.
Corneal Scissors
Corneal scissors have straight or curved blades, which are used to cut into the cornea. The main roles of corneal scissors include performing keratotomy incisions for corneal reshaping and other surgical repairs of the cornea.
Corneal Knife
A corneal knife is used for cataract removal and makes a precise incision in the cornea. It is also used for other corneal surgeries.
Iris Scissors
Ophthalmic iris scissors are used during iris repairs and pupiloplasties to remove or shape parts of the iris. Iris scissors have sharp or blunt tips to cut and hold tissues without damaging them. Iris sponges are used to absorb fluids during such delicate surgeries.
Diamond Blade Knife
Diamond knives are used to make precise corneal incisions required in cataract or corneal surgeries. The main reason is that diamond is harder and wears less than steel. Therefore, it maintains sharpness for longer than steel blades. Also, the blades' sharpness ensures minimal trauma to corneal tissue. This promotes rapid healing and improves the outcome of phacoemulsification and other cataract surgeries.
Some factors that business owners can consider when sourcing ophthalmic surgical knives include the following.
Surgeon's Preference
Surgeons may request specific types of ophthalmic knives based on their experience and the complexity of the procedures. For instance, a surgeon may prefer a diamond knife due to the quality of incision it provides. Therefore, to stock the right kind of ophthalmic knife, one should find out which ones are most commonly used by local surgeons.
Material
Ophthalmic knives can either be made of stainless steel or diamond. Stainless steel knives are easier to manufacture and cheaper. But they need to be replaced often during procedures because they lose sharpness. On the other hand, diamond knives are pricier because they retain sharpness much longer than steel. It is also more durable. Business owners should weigh the pros and cons of each material when purchasing ophthalmic knives.
Type of Surgery
One may need different incisional instruments for general eye surgery and cataract correction, keratoplasty, or corneal transplants. Following this logic, ophthalmic knives suitable for cataract procedures and corneal transplants tend to have finer and sharper blades. On the other hand, knives used for more general eye surgery may be more robust to cater to a surgeon's different needs. Therefore, different kinds of ophthalmic knives are required for varying ocular procedures.
Incision Size
Ophthalmic knives with finer blades are ideal for making smaller incisions. These are highly recommended because they cause less damage to the ocular tissues. Therefore, they greatly reduce the risk of complications and promote faster recovery. Conversely, one should stock knives with wider blades for procedures that need larger incisions. One of the procedures that require larger incisions is vitrectomy.
Sterilization and Packaging
It is necessary that ophthalmic knives have proper sterilization and packaging features to limit infection risks. This is especially important in sterile environments like the operating room. Readymade sterilized knives are more convenient, especially during emergencies. However, one can find customizable sterilization options for bulk orders.
Ophthalmic knives are such that they must be durable and reliable because they perform delicate surgeries to restore a patient's vision. Requirements and features that increase their durability and reliability include the following.
Material Quality
Ophthalmic knives are mostly manufactured from high-quality stainless steel or diamonds. Stainless steal is corrosion-resistant, especially surgical stainless steel. This is because ophthalmic knives are often sterilized. The corrosion resistance helps maintain the blade's integrity and prevents it from rusting. Stainless steel is also very cost-effective and easy to sharpen. In contrast, diamond blades are super sharp, harder, and more durable than steel. This gives ophthalmic knives made from them a better edge retention. Therefore, they need to be sharpened and replaced less frequently.
Precision Manufacturing
Ophthalmic knives are manufactured using advanced techniques like laser cutting or electrochemical machining. These methods ensure that blades have a smooth incision, thereby avoiding unnecessary wear and tear on both the knife and surrounding ocular tissues. In addition, they help make sharp and fine blades that improve stability and reduce chipping, which is critical for performing delicate eye surgeries.
Ergonomic Design
Ophthalmic knives are designed to give a surgeon a firm grip and control to reduce fatigue during long procedures. A surgeon's comfort improves reliability and outcome, as a surgeon who is not fatigued can perform precise cuts with minimal errors. In addition, most <= 3.2 mm incisional ophthalmic knives are made for easy phacoemulsification handling. This is critical in cataract surgeries, as poor handling can damage surrounding tissues, which is unpleasant for everyone concerned.
Maintaining Sterility
Affecting a knife's reliability is its sterility. Sterile knives reduce infection risks, so most are wrapped in sterile packaging. Some are even sterilized with gamma radiation to limit infection risks in surgeries. Readymade sterile knives also save time, which is a big deal in emergencies when seconds feel like hours.
Edge Retention
The aforementioned materials' corrosion resistance and sharpness greatly improve the knives' edge retention, ensuring durability. An important consequence of this feature is that frequent sterilization won't be needed, preserving the knife longer.
Ophthalmic knives are used to treat various eye-related disorders.
Cataract Surgery
Ophthalmic knives are mainly used during cataract surgery to remove the cloudy lens. Corneal knives are used to make precise incisions on the cornea, after which phacoemulsification machines use ultrasonic vibrations to break the cataractous lens into small pieces. These pieces are then suctioned out through the incisions. Finally, the new intraocular lens is inserted through the same small opening.
Corneal Transplant
During corneal transplant surgeries, ophthalmic knives cut both the diseased cornea from the donor tissue and the recipient's eye. A punch is then used to create graft tissue that fits perfectly for seamless suturing. This improves the transplanted cornea's precision and connection, improving visual outcomes and shortening recovery times.
Refractive Surgeries
Other than cataract and corneal surgeries, ophthalmic knives are also used in refractive surgeries, such as LASIK and PRK. Knives make incisions that allow the cornea to be reshaped using lasers. This corrects vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The key benefit of using sharp, precise knives in these surgeries is minimal damage to surrounding tissues. This is critical for reducing postoperative complications and speeding up recovery.
Glaucoma Treatment
In facts, glaucoma can be treated by simply lowering the eye pressure by improving fluid drainage. Ophthalmic knives are used in procedures like trabeculectomy. The knives make incisions in the eye to create a new drainage channel. This helps reduce eye pressure by allowing excess fluid to escape, thereby preventing further damage. Knives are also used during canaloplasty to widen the drainage canal. This improves long-term outflow of aqueous humor and consequently lowers intraocular pressure.
Retinal Surgery
As for retinal repairs of retinal detachments or tears, ophthalmic knives are used to make incisions in the sclera. This provides access to the retina for suturing, laser treatment, or pneumatic retinopexy. Retinal tumor excision also requires ophthalmic knives to cut around the tumor while minimizing damage to nearby healthy tissue and fulfilling cataract and corneal transplant precision incisional requirements.
Ophthalmic insufficiency are surgical instruments used during eye surgeries to make corneal and other incisional cataract and corneal transplant surgical demands precisely cut.
The most common types of ophthalmic knives are keratomes, corneal knives, iris scissors, capsulotomy forceps, diamond knives, and Corneal scissors.
Ophthalmic knives are mostly made from stainless steel or diamonds. Diamond knives outperform stainless steel in retaining sharpness because of the hardness of the material. On the other hand, stainless steel knives are cheaper and easier to sharpen. They are ideal for businesses in which clients will require frequently replacing the knives.
It is important for one to store ophthalmic knives in a way that protects their sharpness from damage. This is because blunt knives pose a risk to injured tissues and require more force, increasing infection risk. During storage, the blades should be separated from each other by blunt guards. This prevents the blades from coming into contact with each other and keeps them sharp. In addition, the knives can be placed in cases where their sharpness is protected. Another great way to keep their sharpness intact is by using a sterile disposable cover.
There are several types of ophthalmic knives. Some of these knives have micro-forceps and blades that are meant for combining into a single unit. Once the blade wears out, it can be replaced separately from the forceps. Knives that cannot be separated from their handles are frequently purchased with new ones, although the handles may be usable for several years.
