Oculoplastic and Lacrimal Instruments: Desmarres, Jaeger, Lacrimal Retractors and Chisels
Instrument guides
Oculoplastic and Lacrimal Instruments: Desmarres, Jaeger, Lacrimal Retractors and Chisels
The lid, orbital and lacrimal instruments we make, from the Desmarres retractor and Jaeger lid plate to lacrimal sac retractors, chisels, serrefines and enucleation spoons.
Oculoplastic surgery works on the lids, the orbit and the tear drainage system, and needs instruments that hold tissue without crushing it and protect the globe. Desmarres and Jaffe retractors hold or evert the lid. A Jaeger lid plate slides under the lid to shield the eye and give a firm surface to cut on. Lacrimal sac retractors and chisels open the way in dacryocystorhinostomy. Serrefines hold tissue or vessels with gentle spring pressure, and enucleation spoons support the globe.
Where does the Desmarres retractor come from?
Louis-Auguste Desmarres (1810 to 1882) was one of the best known French eye surgeons of the nineteenth century and wrote a major textbook on eye disease in 1847. Several instruments carry his name, the curved lid retractor among them. The Science Museum Group holds examples of the retractor. It is still used to evert the lid and hold it, for example to view the fornices.
Which instruments do we make?
| Instrument | Sizes | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Desmarres lid retractor | Four blade widths, sizes 0 to 3 | Everting and holding the lid |
| Jaffe wire lid retractor | 9 or 15 mm | Light lid retraction |
| Jaeger lid plate, insulated | 11 cm, small or large ends | Shielding the globe, cutting surface |
| Scleral eye shield | Small, medium, large | Protecting the globe |
| Schepens orbital retractor, Helveston tissue retractor, Walton conjunctiva retractor | Helveston 7, 9 or 11 mm | Orbit, conjunctiva and muscle surgery |
| Knapp lacrimal, Stevenson, Stevenson solid, Agricola | Sharp or blunt | Opening the lacrimal sac |
| Freer lacrimal chisel, curved, West lacrimal sac chisel | 16.5 to 18.5 cm | Bone work in DCR |
| Wright fascia needle | Passing fascia slings in ptosis repair | |
| Serrefine straight, curved, micro, Dieffenbach | 2.5 to 5.75 cm | Holding tissue or vessels |
| Bunge enucleation spoon, Wells enucleation spoon | Bunge 8 or 12 mm | Supporting the globe in enucleation |
Why an insulated Jaeger plate?
Lid surgery often uses electrocautery or radiofrequency close to the plate. An insulated plate stops current from being carried through the plate to the globe and the surrounding tissue. Check the coating before every use and retire a plate whose coating is chipped.
How should these be cleaned?
Clean serrefine jaws and springs carefully: they are small and easily lost, so clean them in a fine mesh basket. Check retractor edges for burrs, which can tear the conjunctiva. Never leave instruments in saline, because it causes corrosion. Our instrument care guide gives the full routine, and the CDC guidance on cleaning instruments before sterilization explains why cleaning comes before the autoclave.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Desmarres retractor used for?
Everting and holding the eyelid, for example to examine the fornices or during lid and conjunctival surgery.
What is a Jaeger lid plate?
A flat plate slid under the lid to shield the globe and give a firm surface for incisions.
What is a serrefine?
A tiny spring clamp that holds tissue or a vessel with gentle pressure, without a ratchet.
Which instruments are used in DCR?
Lacrimal sac retractors, lacrimal chisels or punches, and lacrimal cannulas, among others. See our cannula guide for the cannulas.
Related instrument guides
- Lid speculum types
- Ophthalmic cannula types
- Westcott scissors and blade breakers
- Scleral depressor types
Order oculoplastic instruments
See the full ophthalmic retractor range. For a set for a hospital, a clinic or a distributor, send us your list and we will send you a quote.