A hand-held, manual, ophthalmic surgical instrument intended to be used to cut corneal tissue (e.g., during cataract extraction surgery, corneal transplant surgery). It comprises two pivoted blades that are usually provided with a finger and thumb ring-handle and which cut with a shearing action (i.e., the blades cut as the sharpened edges pass one another as they are closed). It is typically made of metal and is available in various designs and sizes; some designs may additionally be used for cutting sutures and drapes. This is a reusable device.