Two shielded 'bullet' probes for panoramic endoillumination.

Panoramic viewing during vitrectomy offers significant advantages over conventional viewing in many cases and is being used with increasing frequency. Two endoillumination probes that reduce the glare occurring with use of the existing panoramic endoillumination probes were developed. They allow easier viewing of the fundus in eyes with poor media and improve the visualization of the vitreous fibers adjacent to the probe in eyes with clear media. One probe is used for endoillumination alone, and the other has a pick to be used for bimanual dissection. The two probes have been used in more than 100 vitrectomies for various indications, and they give excellent illumination with reduced glare.