Abstract: An irrigation-aspiration device includes an outer cannula and an inner cannula reciprocatable within the outer cannula. Irrigating fluid is flowable between the inner and outer cannula. The inner cannula is bent along the length thereof and springy so as to be biased near an outer end thereof against one side of the outer cannula. A port opens into the inner cannula and is positioned so as to selectively abrade against an operable end of the outer cannula with a biting or cutting action. An inner lumen of the inner cannula is connected to a vacuum or suction source such that during surgery fragments of the eye may be drawn into the port of the inner cannula and cut by abrasion against the end of the outer cannula and thereafter pulled through the inner cannula and away from the eye. This cutting action may be utilized to remove attached fragments of the anterior capsule, pieces of vitreous, nuclear and cortex material, and to biopsy the iris.

Abstract: An astigmatic ruler for determining an amount of astigmatism associated with a cornea of a human eye by qualitative methods comprises a target member having a plurality of apertures therethrough. One of the apertures is circular and the remaining apertures are elliptical in shape. The elliptical apertures are associated with various incremental amounts of astigmatism. The target member is adapted to be positioned between the eye and an illuminated surgical microscope such that light is projected through a selected aperture and onto the eye. The amount of astigmatism associated with the eye is indicated when a selected aperture is presented to the eye and the aperture has a degree of ellipticity that generally balances the amount of astigmatism associated with the eye so that a generally circular image is reflected from the eye.