Grasping structure for ophthalmic surgery

An ophthalmic surgical instrument for peeling a retinal membrane, comprising:

• a handle;
• an actuator mounted on the handle;
• an outer tube having a proximal end mounted to the handle;
• a first arm extending outwardly relative to a distal end of the outer tube and including a first pulling surface and a first gripping surface substantially perpendicular to the first pulling surface;
• and
• a second arm extending outwardly relative to the distal end of the outer tube and including a second pulling surface and a second gripping surface substantially perpendicular to the second pulling surface, the second gripping surface facing the first gripping surface,
• wherein the actuator is configured to cause the first arm and the second arm to withdraw into the outer tube thereby causing the first pulling surface and the second pulling surface to move toward one another for raising a flap of the retinal membrane between the first gripping surface and the second gripping surface, and gripping of the flap between the first gripping surface and the second gripping surface.