The mark that surgeons use to line up the lense to fix astigmatism
What is a toric mark?
This dye is used to stain the membrane during retina surgery
Tissue Blue
What is in a time out?
(extra points if you get them all)
1. Patient Identity Confirmed
2. Operative consent signed
3. Procedure verified
4. Allergies verified with patient
5. Site-marked
6. Implants verbally verified by surgical team
7. Sterility confirmed
8. Fire Risk Assessment/Prevention Discussion
9. Any additional concerns
(What we actually say, this is pt, dob, allergies, what surgery they are having, confirm lens prn)
A procedure to fix the eyelid turning out
Ectropion
Problem with eyelid positioning
One-line OR memory
This medication is added to the BSS bag to maintain pupil dilation during surgery
epinephrine
to maintain mydriasis (pupil dilation) throughout the procedure. Helps prevent intraoperative miosis caused by surgical manipulation and release of inflammatory mediators. Improves visualization of the lens and posterior segment.
Are sutures used in cataract surgery?
Why?
not typically, the incision is self sealed
This is a retina surgery where the vitreous gel is removed
Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV)
A pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) is surgery where the doctor removes the jelly (vitreous) from inside the eye.
This is done when the jelly is causing a problem, such as blood, scar tissue, or pulling on the retina.
Simple version:
➡️ Take out the bad jelly and clean up the inside of the eye.
PPV for Retinal Detachment
A retinal detachment means the retina (the "film" or "screen" at the back of the eye) has come loose.
The doctor:
Simple version:
➡️ Take out the jelly and repair the retina so it sticks back where it belongs.
Easy difference
What are the rules of prepping?
prep inside to outside. 3 wipes per 4x4, 3 4x4s, and 2 cotton tip applicators
The structure that connects the ciliary body to the lens capsule
The zonules
The zonules of Zinn are fibers that connect the ciliary body to the lens capsule.
Functions:
What fluid do we give to a diabetic patient
normal saline
Where is a sulcus lens placed?
behind the iris and in front of the capsular bag
Where is a block injected
Eye blocks are ways doctors make the eye numb for surgery.
This area contains:
How does a nurse know when to call out?
When the physician is using weck-cells
Recession
Recession weakens a muscle by moving its insertion posteriorly, while resection strengthens a muscle by shortening it.
Which items are MRI conditional?
istent, idose, and susvimo
What are the different viscoelastics and when are they used?
Difference between DMEK and DSEK
Bottom line: DMEK replaces only the damaged cell layer, while DSEK replaces the cell layer plus a thin layer of supporting tissue. Both use a bubble to hold the transplant in place while it heals.
DMEK vs. DSEK
The cornea is the clear front window of the eye. It helps focus light so we can see clearly. On the back of the cornea is the endothelium, a layer of cells that acts like a pump to keep the cornea clear and dry. When these cells stop working, the cornea becomes swollen and cloudy.
Both DMEK and DSEK replace this damaged endothelial layer.
🏠 Think of the cornea like a wall with wallpaper:
DMEK uses thinner tissue, which can lead to faster recovery and sharper vision, but it is more delicate and harder for the surgeon to handle. DSEK uses slightly thicker tissue, making it easier to work with but sometimes resulting in slightly less crisp vision.
🫧 Both surgeries use an air or gas bubble. The bubble acts like an internal bandage, gently pressing the donor tissue against the back of the cornea so it can attach properly. This is especially important in DMEK because the graft is extremely thin and can easily detach.
A graft from the patient used for a pterygium
Autograft
What are the roles in the event of an anterior vitrectomy?
Nurses/ORNA grab the vitrector and vision blue and hand off to the techs.
Anterior Vitrectomy
An anterior vitrectomy is the careful removal of vitreous gel from the front of the eye after a capsular tear, helping protect the retina and stabilize the eye during surgery.
(Think of the vitreous like a delicate spider web attached to the back of the eye. If part of the web gets pulled into the front of the eye through a hole in the capsule, you don't want to yank it out because that could pull on the entire web and damage what's attached behind it. Instead, you carefully trim away only the strands that have moved forward.)
In this procedure the haptics of the lens is secured in the sclera
yamane lens
This reflex can cause ___ when traction is placed on the ocular muscles
Bonus: What surgery is this seen in?
Bradycardia, Oculocardiac reflex, Most commonly seen during pediatric strabismus surgery.
A trigeminovagal reflex in which pressure on the globe or traction on extraocular muscles causes bradycardia.
Common triggers:
Manifestations:
Management:
This procedure creates a new drainage pathway between the lacrimal sac and the nasal cavity
DCR
A DCR is an eye surgery to fix watery eyes when tears can’t drain properly. Your tears normally drain from your eye into your nose through a small tube.
Sometimes that tube gets blocked.
What happens when the pupil in not dilated for FEMTO?
Bonus: in the OR?
The pupil has to be manually stretched on the screen
Malyugin ring or iris hooks
"A Malyugin ring is a tiny spring-like ring that holds the pupil open during cataract surgery so the surgeon can see better and work more safely."
- The pupil does not dilate enough with drops.
- Conditions such as: