An illuminated suction apparatus including a hand-held surgical device combining a high performance non-fiber optic optical waveguide with suction. This device is useful in a wide array of surgical procedures including open and minimally invasive orthopedics. The illuminated suction device described below includes a metal suction tube having a proximal end and a distal end connected by a central portion. The proximal end of the suction tube is provided with fittings for connection to a vacuum source. The suction tube has an inner surface and an outer surface, with a layer of optical cladding having a refractive index that may be between 1.29 and 1.67 on the outer surface of the central section of the suction tube, and an illumination waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end.
