An anterior chamber maintainer (ACM), which is to be utilized in connection with maintaining physiological
intraocular pressure during
intraocular surgery, is disclosed and comprises an axially elongated tubular member which is adapted to be fluidically connected at a first end to a supply of
balanced salt solution (BSS) for introduction into the anterior chamber of an eye so as to maintain adequate
intraocular pressure while performing any
intraocular surgery. A second opposite end of the anterior chamber maintainer (ACM) is provided with a sharply pointed end for
insertion through a
paracentesis incision formed within the limbus region of the eye, and a non-deformable, incompressible, tapered, annular bulbous portion is interposed between the first and second ends such that as the second end passes through the
paracentesis incision, the non-deformable, incompressible, tapered, annular bulbous portion will cause the
paracentesis incision to deform or expand radially outwardly, and after passing through the paracentesis incision, the non-deformable, incompressible, annular bulbous portion will trap the anterior chamber maintainer (ACM) within the anterior chamber of the eye.