Electric double-sleeved vacuuming microtrephine for lens refilling

An automated electric double-sleeved vacuuming microtrephine has been developed that consistently creates a 0.8 to 1.0 mm tear-free hole in the anterior lens capsule. This hole is required for lens refilling to retain accommodation after cataract removal. The trephine is double-sleeved. The stainless-steel outer sleeve vacuums the internal anterior capsule; the stainless steel rotating inner sleeve, which has a blade on the head, then slides forward and cuts the taut anterior capsule. All manipulations are controlled automatically by depressing a foot pedal. Using this instrument, a 0. 8 to 1.0 mm tear-free microhole in the anterior capsule was created successfully in 80% of excised pig (n = 30) and eye-bank (n = 10) eyes. This trephine will be useful for lens refilling in the future.