AUTHOR’S V-SHAPED IRIDOTOMY.

The method of V-shaped iridotomy, performed by me with my modified Hays knife-needle, may be described as follows:

First Stage.—With the blade turned on the flat, the knife-needle is entered at the corneo-scleral junction, or through the upper part of the cornea (Fig. [38]), and passed completely across the anterior chamber to within 3 millimeters[33] of the apparent iris periphery. The knife is then turned edge downward, and carried 3 millimeters to the left of the vertical plane (Fig. [39]).

Second Stage.—The point is now allowed to rest on the iris-membrane, and with a dart-like thrust the membrane is pierced. Then without making pressure on the tissue to be cut, the knife is drawn gently up and down with a saw-like motion, until the incision has been carried through the iris tissue from the point of the membrane puncture to just beneath the point of the corneal puncture. This movement is made wholly in a line with the axis of the knife, the shank passing to and fro through the corneal puncture, and the loss of any aqueous being carefully avoided in the manipulation.

Fig. 38.—Author’s V-shaped iridotomy. Knife-needle entered through cornea.

Fig. 39.—Author’s method. Plan of first incision.

Fig. 40.—First in­ci­sion completed. Plan of second incision.

Fig. 41.—Pupil re­sult­ing from V-shaped iridotomy.

Third Stage.—The pressure of the vitreous will now cause the edges of the incision to immediately bulge open into a long oval (Fig. [40]) through which the knife-blade is raised upward, until above the iris-membrane, and then swung across the anterior chamber to a corresponding point on the right of the vertical plane, which, owing to the disturbance in the relation of the parts made by the first cut, is now somewhat displaced and the second puncture must be made at least 1 millimeter farther over, i. e., 4 millimeters to the right of the vertical plane (Fig. [40]).

Fourth Stage.—With the knife point again resting on the membrane, a second puncture is made by the same quick thrust, and the incision rapidly carried forward by the sawing movement to meet the extremity of the first incision, at the apex of the triangle, thus making a converging V-shaped cut (Fig. [41]). Care must be taken at this point that the pressure of the knife-edge on the tissue shall be most gentle, and that the second incision shall terminate a trifle inside the extremity of the first, in order that the last fiber may be severed and thus allow the apex of the flap to fall down behind the lower part of the iris-membrane. If the flap does not roll back of its own accord it may be pushed downward with the point of the knife. When the operation is completed the knife is again turned on the flat and quickly withdrawn.