Optic nerve clipping for hemostasis during enucleation

An instrument is described for sectioning the optic nerve during enucleation that has several advantages over presently used techniques. the instrument applies a nonreactive, tantalum clip around the optic nerve, and a built-in knife blade transects the nerve anterior to the clip. In addition to providing rapid and effective hemostasis of the vessels within and surrounding the optic nerve, the device cuts only tissue that is encompassed by the clip and not extraneous structures.