A further note on irrigation in cataract extraction / by R. H. Elliot.

  • Elliot, Robert Henry, 1864-1936.
Date:
[1906]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A further note on irrigation in cataract extraction / by R. H. Elliot. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    on the impacted mass. Very often this at once suffices to wash out the obstruction, and the iris easily slides into position, as soon as the stream is again directed over its surface in the usual direction. If this is not the case we may next proceed to another manoeuvre, which, however, I only recommend to those who are confident of their skill, as the result of con- siderable practice, (7) A pair of iris-forceps being introduced into the chamber, one seizes a portion of the capsule, which can be seen hanging down into the chamber, and draws it towards the centre of the pupil. By so doing, one everts the shallow bag formed by the upper cul-de-sac of the capsule, and thereby empties its contents (cor- tical matter) free and loose into the chamber, from which they can be easily washed out. At once the impaction of the iris is relieved, and the membrane can be easily returned into posi- tion. Very often, when the impacted capsule cannot easily be seen, one can, as already stated, render it patent by gently irrigating the chamber; the flapping fragments of the torn capsule at once become obvious, and are easily seized. In recent extractions, I liave been resorting to this manoeuvre with increasing frequency. When dealing with Morgagnian cataracts, or with cataracts in which the cortical matter is abundant and soft, it is my practice to wash <)ut the whole lens (nucleus and all) witl> the irri- gator. As soon as the iridectomy has been made, all instruments save the irrigator (the speculum excepted) are laid aside, and a stream of fluid is directed into the clmmber behind the lens. At once the whole cataract washes out (nucleus and cortex) with the least possible disturbance to the eye ; for the even hydrostatic