Laparoscopic Lens Defogging: a Review of Methods to Maintain a Clear Operating Field

One of the fundamental principles of a successful laparoscopic procedure is a clear operating field. The laparoscopic lens must be able to visualize the internal organs as clearly as possible. However, fogging on the laparoscopic lens due to temperature gradient poses an obstruction in the field of view for surgeons. Many techniques like insufflation, irrigation system, antifogging solutions, and heat source have been employed in order to avoid the fogging of these lenses, but all these methods are partially effective, require constant supervision, and are time-consuming. Therefore, antifogging ability combined with high transparency is imperative for the fabrication of such lenses. In this review, different methods of defogging of laparoscopic lenses are discussed. However, in order to overcome the shortcomings of these methods, another method of defogging laparoscopic lens using superhydrophobic coatings is presented in this review. It discusses different types of organic, inorganic, and hybrid materials for fabrication of superhydrophobic glass substrates. These materials include silica-based nanoparticles, metallic oxides, and polymers. While silica-based particles have shown immense promise as potential candidates for transparent superhydrophobic materials because of development of high contact angles, polymers are also being widely employed for this purpose due to various advantages that they present.