OSE_1306_part2_Layout 1 6/3/13 3:43 PM Page 111
O P H T H A L M O L O G Y
basin of sterile water on the field to prevent
viscoelastic from drying and sticking on
instruments or in lumens.
• Submerge the entire cataract tray —
except for handpieces and diamond knives
— in a large ultrasonic bath of water and
non-enzymatic cleaning solution for 3 minutes.
• Immediately following instruments' use in
surgery, use an automated instrument rinse
system to flush 120ml of sterile distilled water
and 60ml of air through each lumen of the I/A
handpieces and tips, and through the phaco
handpieces' lumens. "We've also done this
with 60ml syringes, but it's very labor-intensive and I find staff is tempted to cut corners
on the amounts of water," says Ms. Johnson.
• Submerge the tips of diamond knives into
the ultrasonic bath for 1 minute, and then
rinse them thoroughly, including using a
syringe to squirt sterile distilled water cautiously into the lumen and then flushing with
a syringe full of air.
• Rinse trays and instruments thoroughly,
and dry the trays before wrapping and sterilizing them according to manufacturer's sterilization recommendations.
• Change the water in the ultrasonic unit
daily. Also clean and thoroughly dry the ultraJ U N E 2013 | O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
PHACO HANDPIECE
REPAIR
Complete
handpiece
rebuild on most
major brands
Call AOI for Information
800.576.1266 or 949.580.1266
