Patent ID: 7285107

Claim:
A method of draining fluid from a subretinal space of an eye and performing a fluid exchange in a vitreous of said eye, comprising the steps of: providing a vacuum source; providing an vitreoretinal instrument, comprising: a handle; and a cannula coupled to said handle comprising: a curved distal portion having a plane of curvature and a side port disposed at an angle of about 90 degrees to said plane of curvature; a second port disposed away from said side port; a first flexible tubing having a distal end fluidly coupled to said side port and a proximal end fluidly coupled to said vacuum source; a second flexible tubing having a distal end fluidly coupled to said second port and a proximal end fluidly coupled to said vacuum source; and a valve disposed on said handle for selectively opening and closing said second flexible tubing; grasping said handle; disposing said cannula within said eye so that said side port is in said subretinal space and said second port is in said vitreous above said subretinal space; actuating said valve to close said second flexible tubing; activating said vacuum source; aspirating fluid from said subretinal space via said side port and said first flexible tubing; actuating said valve to open said second flexible tubing; and aspirating said fluid from said vitreous via said second port and said second flexible tubing while continuing to perform said step of aspirating fluid from said subretinal space.