Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Vannas scissors are fine-tipped micro scissors, also called spring scissors, used for delicate cutting in ophthalmic and neurosurgical work. In the United States, a manual ophthalmic scissors is a Class I device exempt from premarket notification, and a Vannas listing in FDA’s device database may be labeled sterile or non-sterile depending on the maker. This page covers tip shapes, materials, regulatory class and sterilization labeling for clinic staff, buyers and students.
What are Vannas scissors?
Scissors are cutting instruments with two blades joined at a pivot so the sharp edges glide against each other and shear whatever lies between them. Micro scissors of this kind are often called Vannas or spring scissors. The manufacturer WPI describes them as designed for ophthalmological procedures and for neurosurgical applications that need a delicate incision, with fine tips suited to very restricted spaces. Who uses them: ophthalmic and neurosurgical teams, and researchers who work under a dissection microscope.
How are Vannas scissors built?
They follow the basic scissor design of two blades on a pivot, with fine blades and fine tips. WPI lists stainless steel and titanium as the materials of its Vannas range, and says the scissors suit right- or left-hand use and work well under a dissection microscope.
Types: straight, curved and angled tips
The main variation described by the manufacturer WPI is blade tip shape. Tips can be straight, curved or angled, and the range is made in stainless steel or titanium.
| Tip shape | Description |
|---|---|
| Straight | Tip in line with the blade |
| Curved | Tip curves away from the blade line |
| Angled | Tip set at an angle to the blade |
Tip length is also a specification that varies between products; check the maker’s product listing and instructions for use for the exact dimensions of a given instrument.
FDA class and sterilization labeling
Under 21 CFR 886.4350, a manual ophthalmic surgical instrument is a nonpowered, handheld device intended to aid or perform ophthalmic surgical procedures, and the generic type includes ophthalmic scissors. The regulation classifies it as Class I (general controls) and exempt from the premarket notification procedures in subpart E of part 807, subject to the limitations in 21 CFR 886.9. FDA’s product code for this device is HNF, “Scissors, Ophthalmic”, regulation number 886.4350, device class 1 (openFDA classification database).
Sterilization status is set per product, not per instrument type. In the openFDA UDI database, the first 100 of 316 records with product code HNF and “Vannas” in the device description included 89 labeled not sterile, reusable and requiring sterilization prior to use, 8 labeled not sterile with no sterilization-before-use requirement, 2 requiring sterilization and labeled single-use, and 1 labeled sterile and single-use. One example, a Sontec Instruments Vannas capsulotomy scissors listing in AccessGUDID, is labeled not packaged sterile, requires sterilization prior to use, is not single-use, and carries no MRI safety labeling.
Safe use and handling basics
- Check the label of the exact product: whether it ships sterile, whether it is single-use, and whether it needs sterilization before first use.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use for cleaning and reprocessing; the regulation and databases above do not replace them.
- Use the instrument only for the purposes the manufacturer states.
Common mistakes
- Assuming every Vannas scissors arrives sterile. The database records above show it varies by listing.
- Treating a vendor’s product page as the regulatory record; the class and product code come from FDA.
Frequently asked questions
Are Vannas scissors the same as spring scissors?
The terms overlap. WPI says micro scissors are often called Vannas or spring scissors.
What class of device are Vannas scissors in the US?
Ophthalmic scissors fall under 21 CFR 886.4350, a Class I device exempt from premarket notification, subject to the limitations in 21 CFR 886.9.
Do Vannas scissors come sterile?
It depends on the listing. In the openFDA UDI records described above, most were labeled not sterile and requiring sterilization prior to use; check the label of the exact product.
Related instruments
For the wider family of eye-surgery tools, see ophthalmic surgical instruments and types of surgical scissors. Comparable fine instruments are covered in Stevens tenotomy scissors and the Castroviejo needle holder.
Sources
- eCFR, 21 CFR 886.4350 Manual ophthalmic surgical instrument (checked 2026-10-30): ecfr.gov/current/title-21/…/section-886.4350
- openFDA device classification, product code HNF, and openFDA UDI records (queried 2026-10-30): open.fda.gov/apis/device
- NLM AccessGUDID, device record 00192896098503 (checked 2026-10-30): accessgudid.nlm.nih.gov
- WPI, “Vannas: The Popular Micro Spring Scissors for Delicate Work” (read 2026-10-30): wpiinc.com
