Iris scissors are small surgical scissors, typically around 9 to 12 cm long, with short, very sharp blades and fine tips. They were first designed for eye surgery, but their precision has made them a standard instrument in minor surgery, dermatology, plastic surgery, podiatry and veterinary practice.
In short
Iris scissors are for fine, precise cutting of delicate tissue. Choose straight or curved blades, standard or tungsten carbide edges, and keep them away from sutures and dressings.
What iris scissors are used for#
- Trimming tissue and skin edges in minor and plastic surgery.
- Excising small skin lesions in dermatology.
- Fine dissection where larger scissors would be clumsy.
- Eye and eyelid procedures, the original purpose of the pattern.
Straight or curved#
Straight iris scissors are good for precise straight cuts and trimming. Curved iris scissors follow contours and let the user see the tips during dissection. Many minor surgery sets include a curved pair.
Variations#
| Variation | Feature |
|---|---|
| Standard iris | Sharp/sharp tips, about 11 cm |
| Delicate or micro iris | Finer blades for very delicate tissue |
| Tungsten carbide iris | Gold handles, longer-lasting edge |
| Supercut iris | One razor-sharp blade for a very smooth cut |
| Serrated iris | Micro-serrated blade that stops tissue slipping |
Iris scissors in sets#
Because they are small and precise, iris scissors are often the main scissors in skin excision, biopsy and laceration sets. Larger procedures pair them with Metzenbaum and Mayo scissors.
Keeping them sharp#
Care checklist
- Use them only on tissue; never on sutures, wire or dressings.
- Protect the fine tips with tip guards during cleaning and sterilization.
- Check the tips meet and cut cleanly before each use.
- Have them sharpened by a professional when they start to fold tissue.
Frequently asked questions#
Are iris scissors only for eye surgery?#
No. Despite the name, they are used widely in minor, plastic and skin surgery, podiatry and veterinary practice.
What size are iris scissors?#
Most are about 9 to 12 cm long, with 11 cm being a common standard size.
Can iris scissors cut sutures?#
They can, but it dulls the fine blades. Use stitch or straight Mayo scissors for sutures.
Order iris scissors from Gami Surgical#
Gami Surgical manufactures straight, curved, tungsten carbide and supercut iris scissors in Sialkot, Pakistan, and delivers worldwide. Send us the versions and quantities you need for a quote.
