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A P R I L 2 0 1 4 | O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
I
was happy with our ophthalmic microscopes, but when they got so
old that the original manufacturer discontinued service on them, we
felt it was time to see what else was available. I expected to see
some improvements, but what I saw far exceeded my expectations.
The improvements are not just window-dressing — they truly can
make care better and more efficient, and improve the experience for
everyone, including the surgeon, the staff and the patient. Here's a look.
1. Better red reflex
Over the last 10 years, nearly all microscope makers have vastly
improved their lighting so that a significant part of the light travels to the
retina and reflects back. This improved indirect lighting improves the
contrast and shadows, and makes it much easier and more efficient to
work inside the eye. For me, this improvement stands out above all the
others. The size, consistency and quality are amazing.
Seeing better helps me work faster and better. When I'm doing a cap-
sulorhexis, for example, and something starts to go wrong, I can see it
and correct it much earlier. It helps when I'm polishing the capsule after
lens removal, too. It also eliminates a lot of the repositioning that used
to be endemic to the procedure. With my old scope, it was important
for the staff to keep the patient positioned so that the irises were paral-
lel with the plane of the floor; any tilt could cause a loss of the red
reflex. I also periodically had to move the scope from side to side — so-
called XY movement — to keep it centered. The new technology is
much more forgiving.
O P H T H A L M O L O G Y
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