The use of the Fugo Blade in corneal surgery: a preliminary animal study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the performance of the Fugo Blade in cutting corneal tissue in animals, both in vitro and in vivo.


METHODS
Corneal incisions were made on pig eyes using the Fugo Blade. The histologic characteristics of these cuts were then evaluated. Similar cuts were also performed in rabbit corneas in vivo and compared with cuts performed with mechanical blades. The rabbits were euthanized, and the corneas were obtained for histopathologic examination 14 days after surgery.


RESULTS
Slit-lamp examinations and histologic findings showed that the Fugo Blade can produce sharp cuts in the cornea with minimal tissue damage beyond the edges of the incisions. It cuts without resistance and permits normal wound healing.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the Fugo Blade is currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for anterior capsulotomy, our study demonstrates that the Fugo Blade can safely and quickly produce resistance-free cuts in corneal tissue in animals, opening additional avenues for use of this device in corneal surgery.
Peponis
Vasileios
V
Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Rosenberg
Pinchas
P
Reddy
Satya V
SV
Herz
Joshua B
JB
Kaufman
Herbert E
HE
D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011817:Rabbits; D013552:Swine; D014945:Wound Healing