Endothermal pupilloplasty to optimize pupil centration, size, and contour

Abstract

Iris defects and distorted pupils are commonly managed with iris suturing techniques that aim to close the defect and/or reform the physiological pupil. The re-creation of an optimally sized and centered pupil is often challenging because of missing iris, asymmetrical iris damage, or variable tension around the pupil. Current options include removing or cutting iris tissue using microscissors or the vitreous cutter, instrument stretching, or postoperative laser photocoagulation. Iris microendodiathermy is a simple technique that is minimally traumatic, titratable, and controlled, avoids excessive tissue manipulation, and is able to create a round cosmetically pleasing pupil. A bipolar endodiathermy cautery is applied to the iris stroma to induce tissue contraction and to gently pull the pupil in the meridian to which probe is applied. Endothermal pupilloplasty (EDP) may be used to recenter or enlarge a small pupil, thereby avoiding additional trauma inflicted by a vitrector or microscissors that physically cuts the iris.