Sato needling for pupillary membranes.

Dense pupillary membranes are resistant to needle-knife incision. Trauma to attached intraocular structures may be produced during discission techniques that stretch the membrane. The Sato discission technique produces membrane stabilization on a fixation needle. This allows controlled incision of the pupillary membrane at a right angle to the direction of the fibers without tension on surrounding structures. The Sato technique is not difficult, and surgical complications are minimal. Using this technique, adequate pupillary openings were produced in 62 of 65 eyes, with an average follow-up of 50 months. Postoperative visual acuity was 6/24 or better in 43 (74%) eyes. No long-term surgical complications were encountered.