A contact lens as an artificial cornea for improved visualization during practice surgery on cadaver eyes.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the use of a polymethylmethacrylate contact lens as an artificial cornea to enhance visualization for practice surgery using cadaver eyes.


METHODS
The opaque cornea of a cadaver eye is removed by trephination. Cyanoacrylate glue is used to secure a large-diameter polymethylmethacrylate contact lens to the corneal rim.


RESULTS
Excellent visualization for practice surgery is achieved with this technique. The adhesion of the contact lens to the cadaver eye maintains the anterior chamber sufficiently to perform phacoemulsification cataract extraction or pars plana vitrectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
This technique improves visualization of the intraocular structures during practice surgery, thereby enhancing the ability of the learning surgeon to perform and practice delicate surgical maneuvers. The procedure is simple, effective, and inexpensive.
Lenart
Thomas D
TD
Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
McCannel
Colin A
CA
Baratz
Keith H
KH
Robertson
Dennis M
DM
D002102:Cadaver; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D003261:Contact Lenses; D003315:Cornea; D005137:Eye, Artificial; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education*; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods
D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate