Illuminated curved vitrectomy probe for vitreoretinal surgery.

A new self-illuminated and curved vitrectomy probe was designed for better accessibility of the peripheral retina, particularly in phakic patients. This probe has a 20-gauge pneumatic cutter. The curvature at the shaft has a 19.4-mm radius and is 25 mm long. A 2.5-cm piece of polyethylene terephthalate tubing (heat-shrink tubing) is threaded over both the probe and the 0.5-mm diameter fiberoptic light source to assemble the illuminated probe. Use of this instrument avoids inadvertent trauma to the clear lens in phakic eyes and allows the surgeon to illuminate the anterior vitreous with one hand while the other hand can be used to depress the sclera. This instrument complements wide-angle viewing for safe and quick surgical treatment of peripheral retinal pathology in phakic patients.