Finishing this case will be difficult

The reason why ophthalmologists need to perform at least 1,000 cataract surgeries until they are sufficiently up the learning curve, … More

Cataract Quiz: how to rescue this case

This patient has an intumescent white cataract and we know that poses a risk of capsular run-out due to the … More

Soft versus Dense Cataracts

Our guest surgeon, Dra. Luz Marina Melo from Colombia, shows us two very different techniques for soft versus dense cataracts. … More

Pars Plana Injection of BSS

Our guest surgeon, Dr Mohammad Abusamak from Jordan, is performing cataract surgery on this monocular patient who has a high … More

Playlist: Cataract Surgery in Myopia

playlist: cataract surgery in myopia

Cataract Quiz: What should you do?

What are these dark spots seen in the red reflex as you are about to start cataract surgery? What do … More

tiny pupil and fibrotic membrane

This is a very tough case for this senior resident. The patient has a history of chronic uveitis, which has … More

complete case: phaco chop in myope

Complete Cataract Cases are videos where we show the entire surgery, from the first incision (usually the paracentesis in my … More

adherent posterior capsule plaques

You are doing cataract surgery for a patient with a dense nucleus, an advanced cataract, with barely count fingers vision. … More

warning: phaco wound burn!

This is among the most important cataract surgery videos that you will see in your lifetime. Really. I have taught … More

the bowled out nucleus

We have all experienced it: a nucleus that it too soft and gummy to divide in the capsular bag and … More

Playlist: a new feature for learning

a new feature: Playlists to give suggested videos for review

Learning Phaco Chop: you can do it!

Young surgeons need to learn to perform phaco chop — it makes cataract surgery efficient and increases safety. Less ultrasonic … More

Cataract Quiz: intumescent decompression

One of our favorite topics on CataractCoach is the intumescent white cataract. We know that the capsular bag is pressurized … More

Amazing Pterygium Peeling Technique

After more than 20 years of doing ocular surgery, there are only a few surgical pearls that amaze and surprise … More

Small Capsulorhexis Phaco Chop

The capsulorhexis is an important part of cataract surgery and one reason is that it allows access to the inside … More

Not all white cataracts are the same

All white cataracts are not the same. They can run the spectrum from soft to very dense, with a variable … More

Incisional Techniques for Astigmatism

Cataract surgery can be our most powerful refractive surgery procedure, correcting high degrees of myopia, hyperopia, and even astigmatism (with … More

Review: Uveitis, Glaucoma, Cataract

Cataract surgery in an eye with uveitic glaucoma Stepwise approach to surgical success Cataract surgery in eyes with small pupils … More

Neo-vascular glaucoma Ahmed Valve FP7

When teaching our UCLA ophthalmology residents at our large county hospital, Olive View UCLA Medical Center, we encounter many patients … More

expert white cataract capsulorhexis

CataractCoach has advised the beginning surgeons to improve the dexterity of the non-dominant hand and this case is a great … More

a short groove is sufficient

For techniques such as stop-and-chop or divide-and-conquer, the phaco probe is used to sculpt a trench or groove in the … More

Complete Cataract Case: Routine Surgery

While it is fun to watch a video of a cataract surgery that involves complicated maneuvers and difficult challenges, this … More

Keep track of cortex during surgery

Even with good dilation, cortex can be hidden at the capsular bag equator. In this case, the dilation is about … More

choosing refractive targets

Plano is not always the goal It would seem logical that emmetropia is the ideal refractive state of the eye. … More

Review: Career Paths for Surgical Learning

The path to learning surgery is a long and challenging one. True success requires years of dedication and the passion … More

Cataract Quiz: What happened here?

Our quiz features a video from Gustavo Hüning, MD, MBA from Brazil and it shows an unusual situation that happens … More

Rotary Chop Technique

The key to splitting a brunescent cataract is to access the central endo-nucleus. This is the densest part of the … More

posterior chamber deepens with capsule break

When the posterior chamber deepens during cataract surgery, it is usually a sign that the posterior capsule has been ruptured. … More

Phaco Chop without Vacuum

It is a pleasure to watch an expert surgeon doing cataract surgery and I really enjoyed learning from Dr. Alex … More

Cataract Surgery with prior Amblyopia

The most common causes of amblyopia are related to either strabismus or an untreated refractive error, particularly in one eye … More

Complete Cataract Case: No pupil ring!

Another video in our series of complete cataract cases, where the entire surgery from start to finish is presented. There … More

compilation video: perfecting your surgery

The difference between good and great may appear subtle to outsiders, but for ophthalmologists like us, these details are very … More

recovering from Argentinian Flag Sign

We have explained in great detail the techniques that can help to prevent the dreaded Argentinian flag sign with intumescent … More

Cataract Quiz: Trapped Air Bubble

We have a great learning case from Dr. Xiaogang Wang from Taiyuan, China with a surgical challenge. This patient has … More

Angle Alpha and Angle Kappa with IOLs

If an IOL has zero power, such as in an extremely myopic patient, where we place it in the eye … More

Drill and Chop Technique

With a dense cataract, more effort and force is needed to chop the cataract. Usually with phaco chop, it is … More

Surprise! Loose Zonular Support!

This patient has a dense cataract and a surprise waiting for the surgeon: as the nucleus is being cracked, we … More

lift the iris in smaller pupil cases

While we think that an 8 mm pupil is very well dilated, we must remember that the capsular bag has … More

compilation video: IOL exchange

Every cataract surgeon needs to learn how to perform an IOL exchange because, although it is rare, we sometimes need … More

Corneal Phaco Incision Hydration

The technique of corneal stromal hydration to help seal a phaco incision is useful to ensure a watertight incision and … More

Cataract surgery & decentered LASIK flap

We frequently have patients with a history of prior LASIK who are now undergoing cataract surgery. We have explained in … More

complete cataract case: great red reflex

We all love a great red reflex during cataract surgery because it makes is much easier to see details such … More

easily aspirating the epi-nucleus

It is much faster and easier to aspirate the epi-nucleus using the phaco probe than the I/A probe because the … More

my secret for draping eyelids

It’s really not a secret, but it is critically important: you must sequester the eyelid margin and keep all eyelashes … More

cannula for cortex aspiration

Bimanual irrigation/aspiration for cortex removal has an advantage: it is easy to switch hands and then access a full 360 … More

compilation video: suture-fixated IOLs

This video features all sorts of suture-fixation techniques for securing IOLs in cases where there is limited or no capsular … More

remove one nuclear half first

There are many ways to divide and emulsify the lens nucleus in cataract surgery. Some advanced surgeons will chop the … More

Cataract Quiz: many small opacities

Quiz time! You are doing what seemed like a routine cataract case and then you see many small opacities in … More

scleral tunnel phaco incisions

Many years ago, incisions for cataract surgery were made in the sclera, even for the small phaco incisions. The scleral … More