Performance characteristics of a straight versus bent 25-gauge vitrector.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE During vitrectomy in phakic patients, lens damage can occur while shaving the peripheral vitreous. Modifying the vitrector with a slight bend can diminish this risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS To assess whether the bent vitrector performs to standard, the cutting and aspiration functionality of a straight and bent cutter was tested on both the vitreous from an enucleated porcine eye and balanced salt solution. Data were analyzed using a paired two-tailed t-test for comparison of two small sample means. RESULTS The average time for removal of vitreous was 19.32 seconds with the straight cutter and 19.26 seconds for the bent cutter. There was no statistically significant difference between the removal rates (P = .87). The average time for aspiration of balanced salt solution was 14.3 seconds with the straight tip and 14.16 seconds with the bent tip. There was no statistically significant difference between the aspiration rates (P = .55). CONCLUSION Both unmodified and bent vitrectors demonstrate an equally efficient rate of removal of vitreous and balanced salt solution in vitro.