New iris retractor for pupil dilatation during anterior vitrectomy: double-hook iris retractor

To report a new iris retractor as a tool for pupillary dilatation in eyes with a small pupil. This instrument was designed to prevent the retractor from dropping out of corneal incision, especially during anterior peripheral vitrectomy requiring a scleral indentation. A new iris retractor was designed with the top in the form of a double-hook, based on the conventional flexible iris retractor. The new instrument was used in 16 eyes, and the conventional flexible iris retractor was used in 14 eyes, with proliferative retinopathy or proliferative diabetic retinopathy in cases in which anterior vitrectomy was performed. The number of times that the instrument has been replaced were recorded. The conventional flexible iris retractor was replaced at mean number of 4.2 times, while the new iris retractor was replaced a mean number of 0.3 times during vitreous surgery. The difference was statistically significant (P = 0.009, Mann-Whitney test). The new iris retractor can easily hook onto the iris and is useful in anterior vitrectomy.