TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to ophthalmic endoilluminators and more particularly to a wide-angle endoilluminator for ophthalmic surgery.

BACKGROUND

Ophthalmic illuminators allow a surgeon to illuminate the interior of an eye such as the vitreous and the retina during surgical procedures. For example, an ophthalmic illuminator (endoilluminator) includes a handpiece coupled to a shaft or probe configured to be inserted into the eye through an insertion cannula. In some cases, the endoilluminator includes a fiber optic element within a bore of the probe. By driving a proximal end of the fiber optic element with a suitable light source, light emitted from a distal end of the fiber illuminates a desired portion of the eye during a surgical procedure. A user (e.g., an ophthalmic surgeon) may illuminate the vitreous chamber of the eye with the endoilluminator while using an ophthalmic microscope or a digital visualization system (e.g., Alcon NGENUITY® “heads-up surgery” visualization system) to observe the eye when performing surgical maneuvers.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates generally to ophthalmic endoilluminators and more particularly to a wide-angle endoilluminator for ophthalmic surgery.

Certain aspects provide an endoilluminator comprising a probe housing an optical fiber. The probe comprises a distal end with an opening through which a first light from a distal end of the optical fiber is configured to be propagated. The probe comprises one or more side openings through which a second light from one or more sides of the optical fiber is configured to be propagated. The endoilluminator also comprises a handpiece coupled to a light source and the proximal end of the probe, wherein the light source is configured to drive light into the optical fiber.

The following description and the related drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative features of one or more embodiments.

