KEY TAKEAWAY POINTS
- The determinates of flow rate in vitreoretinal procedures are complex, due to the unpredictable nature of the vitreous and how various parameters interact with each other.
- An increasing cut rate contributes to higher vitreous flow due to higher fragmentation of vitreous but is met by physical limits.
- Cutter designs can be modified to overcome these limits, such as port and blade optimizations.
- Modern vitrectomy cutters, at their highest available cut rates, provide high vitreous flow rates along with lower tractional forces during vitreoretinal procedures.