Obtaining maximal optic nerve length during enucleation procedures.

OBJECTIVE To determine optimal scissor blade design and surgical approach to facilitate obtaining a long optic nerve segment during enucleation procedures. METHODS Two hundred mock enucleations were performed with the use of a human child skull model and a silicone sphere to simulate an eye. Temporal and nasal approaches with scissor blades with noncurved, mildly curved, or strongly curved blades were tested. RESULTS Longer optic nerve segments were obtained with mildly curved scissor blades from both temporal and nasal surgical approaches. Strongly curved scissor blades uniformly produced smaller specimens. CONCLUSIONS Mildly curved scissors should be used for enucleation when a long optic nerve specimen is desired. Strongly curved scissors should be avoided.