Electrovitreotomy. 2. Principles and results.

Continued experience confirms the suitability of electrovitreotomy for dividing pathogenically taut proliferative and non-proliferative vitreous forms with a minimum of bleeding, and an inability to cut vitreous of ordinary consistency and tension. It differs directly with electrovitrectomy in these regards. To use effectively with a minimum of complications it is mandatory to have a vitrectomy capability immediately at hand and to respect a wide variety of interrelated factors that include: current density, electrical resistance of tissues, duration of electrical action: dimension, insulation, and configuration of the electrode: configuration, tension, location, and morphological content of dissectable structures. Mobile and dispersed blood in the liquid of the retrovitreal space often surrounds cuttable vitreous lesions. Frequently rest causes it to sediment and improves viewing sufficiently to permit effective electrovitreotomy without vitrectomy.