An incisional instrument and method of use for creating accurate, reproducible surgical incisions. An exemplary embodiment includes an incisional instrument configured for attachment to a patient's eye and for use performing arcuate limbal relaxing incisions (LRIs). The incisional instrument is made up of two coaxial, interconnecting pieces: a docking piece and a cutting piece. The docking piece includes a suction mechanism and is configured for being secured to a patient's eye just outside the corneal limbus. The cutting piece is configured to fit flush within the docking piece and includes cutting blades and one or more handles for rotating the cutting piece relative to the docking piece. When assembled, the cutting blades extend beyond the proximal end of the docking piece by a length equal to the desired depth of LRIs to be cut. The incisional instrument further includes measurement markings for properly positioning and measuring incisions.

The present invention provides a keratoprosthesis assembly comprising a central optical core; and a peripheral skirt comprising at least one porous biocompatible layer and methods of using it in keratoprosthesis procedures.

Embodiments of the claimed invention are directed to the treatment of glaucoma (or conditions of elevated intraocular pressure) using a novel ab interno trabeculotomy procedure that uses a flexible device. At least one advantage of the present method is that it does not require a conjunctival or scleral incision, which in turn improves patient recovery time and healing.

A technique can consistently achieve thicknesses of 50 m for corneal tissue for Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). Grafts with thicknesses of 50 m are also known as nanothin DSAEK (NT-DSAEK) grafts. Evidence shows that using thinner DSAEK grafts, particularly NT-DSAEK grafts, can significantly improve visual outcomes. According to an example embodiment, a method for producing a corneal graft includes drying a donor cornea to cause a pre-cut thickness of the donor cornea to decrease. The method includes, concurrently with drying the donor cornea, determining pre-cut thickness measurements for the donor cornea. The method includes, in response to the pre-cut thickness measurements indicating the pre-cut thickness of the donor cornea has decreased to a predetermined value, cutting the donor cornea to a post-cut thickness of 100 m, or more particularly 50 m, to produce a corneal graft.

Methods and devices are adapted for implanting into the eye. An incision is formed in the cornea of the eye and a shunt is inserted through the incision into the anterior chamber of the eye. The shunt includes a fluid passageway. The shunt is passed along a pathway from the anterior chamber through the scleral spur of the eye into the suprachoroidal space and positioned in a first position such that a first portion of the fluid passageway communicates with the anterior chamber and a second portion of the fluid passageway communicates with the suprachoroidal space to provide a fluid passageway between the suprachoroidal space and the anterior chamber.

An apparatus for making an incision in a surface has a cutting head that includes a stabilizing cap for placement on the surface and operable to inhibit relative motion between the cutting head and the surface. A cutting element is located radially distal to the stabilizing cap and is configured to make the incision which is radially distal to and at least partially surrounds the stabilizing cap.

A medical knife which maintains low penetration resistance, without the maximum-width parts of the medical knife creating sudden changes in penetration resistance even when passing through tissue. Knife includes a pointed tip, a cutting part which has edges having first oblique faces which are formed along the outer periphery, and second oblique faces which are formed inside the first oblique faces. Maximum-width parts are formed contiguously with the cutting part. A shank part is formed contiguously with the maximum-width parts. The cutting part is formed in such a way that the shape of the planar projection thereof becomes wider from the pointed tip towards the maximum-width parts, and the first oblique faces extend further towards the shank part side than the second oblique faces over at least one portion of the area running from the maximum-width parts to the shank part.

A motion-compensated cutting system includes a hand-held tool body, and an actuator connected to the tool body. A shaft of the actuator is movable relative to the tool body so that a distal end of a cutting implement attached to the shaft is axially movable relative to the tool body. An optical coherence tomography system includes an optical fiber with a distal end fixed relative to the distal end of the cutting implement. The system includes a control unit that can determine a position of the distal end of the cutting implement relative to a reference surface based on input from the optical coherence tomography system. The control unit can control the cutting implement to compensate for relative motion between the tool body and the reference surface, and can maintain a predetermined depth of the distal end of the cutting implement with respect to the reference surface.

A microsurgical device and methods of its use can be used for treatment of various conditions including eye diseases, such as glaucoma, using minimally invasive surgical techniques. A dual-blade device can be used for cutting the trabecular meshwork (TM) in the eye. The device tip provides entry into the Schlemm's canal via its size (i.e., for example, 0.2-0.3 mm width) and configuration where a ramp elevates the TM away from the outer wall of the Schlemm's canal and guides the TM to first and second lateral elements for creating first and second incisions through the TM. The dimensions and configuration of the blade is such that an entire strip of TM is removed without leaving TM leaflets behind and without causing collateral damage to adjacent tissues.

The present invention relates to an ophthalmic knife and methods of its use for treatment of various conditions including eye diseases, such as glaucoma, using minimally invasive surgical techniques. The device is configured for cutting the tissues within the eye, for example, a trabecular meshwork (TM).