Novel Material to Quantify Sharpness and Traction of Vitreous Cutters

There is no available method for evaluating cutting quality of vitreotomes. The available methods of assessment allow only indirect judgment of their quality and are difficult to apply in clinical practice. We propose using a collagen film with maximum thickness of 1-2 micron to test the sharpness of instruments under conditions resembling clinical ones. The collagen film is fixed by a special device, then place in physiological saline, and then cut under the operation microscope. It shows whether the cutting edges are sharp enough, and the collagen film is cut smoothly. We also use an Electroforce 3100 machine and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis software to quantify the vitreoretinal force applied to the retina during vitrectomy.