Hydrodissection Sleeve to Aid Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgey is a common operation approximately 25 million pocedures per year worldwide. An essential step of the procedure is hydrodissection where fluid is forced into the eye through a cannula to free the cataract from its capsule. A serious and potential sight threatening complication of hydrodissection is iris prolapse, where the iris comes out of the wound. The overall incidence of iris prolapse during cataract surgery is 0.9% and higher in patients with intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) at 11.9% , small pupils and small eyes. Patients on Tamsulosin medication with a Full Set of Project Data IRAS Version 6.3.3 5 DRAFT pupil less than 7.5mm have a 79% risk of prolapse Iris prolapse most often occurs during hydrodissection because the hydrodissection cannula is smaller (approx.1mm) than the wound (2.2-2.7mm) it is introduced through. Therefore the iris can be forced out / prolapse through this gap by the forced injection of fluid.

Traditional methods such as phenylephrine injection into the eye have varying effects can be unlicensed and possibly increase the prolapse risk. Mechanical pupil stretching can permanently damage the iris with complications.

Phacosleeve hydrodissection where the wound is sealed by a phacosleeve and the hydrodissecting irrigation cannula introduced through the sleeve or from side port /incison. The phacosleeve is not designed for this. This study is to use a purpose made tapered sleeve by Medicel in the same fashion as the current phacosleeve.