Back when I was a resident (I graduated in 2000), we were required to perform 10 manual extra-capsular cataract extractions (ECCE) prior to learning phaco. Later this was lowered to 5 and then about two decades ago the requirement was removed altogether. For many years now ophthalmology residents learn only phaco and some learn only corneal incisions. The MSICS procedure (manual small incision cataract surgery, or I would rather say manual shelved incision cataract surgery) is a much evolved version of the older ECCE surgery that I was taught. And the key is that the incision creation is far better than the old ECCE days where I was taught to use corneo-scleral scissors to cut the limbus! If you are a surgeon who does not know how to perform MSICS, you truly must learn and you can start with this prior video. In today’s video our guest surgeon shows us that he employs both MSICS and phaco and tailors the surgery to the patient. And yes, even in Beverly Hills, I still perform a couple MSICS surgeries every year.
