1351: techniques for white cataracts

This is the talk that I am giving today, Monday, January 17, 2022 at the Hawaiian Eye meeting. It’s a … More

1333: pre-chopper for nucleus division

The pre-chopper is an instrument with two blades which are shaped like paddles and they are embedded into the nucleus … More

1324: even smaller incision MSICS

In this video our guest surgeon bisects the nucleus in the anterior chamber before manually extracting each half, thus allowing … More

1323: USA surgeons must learn MSICS

Ophthalmology residency training programs have changed over the past two decades in the way that cataract surgery is taught. Twenty … More

1321: challenging cataract cases keynote

I was recently honored with another named, keynote lecture. This invitation was from the Hyderabad Ophthalmologists’ Association to give the … More

1320: do I prefer flip or chop?

Many CataractCoach fans have emailed me asking which technique I prefer for routine cases: phaco flip or phaco chop? Some … More

1284: Pupil Stretching Works!

Pupil stretching works. And it works well without additional instrumentation or devices. In this example the pupil went from 3.9 … More

1283: The “I&A only” Soft Cataract

This young patient developed a cataract after trauma. Fortunately, the zonular support is great and the long term stability of … More

1282: flip and chop for softer lens

If there is less nuclear density, then flip and chop is also a great technique. It brings the nucleus up … More

1281: flip and chop when it’s dense

This complete cataract case shows the entire surgery from first incision until the end. This allows for great learning for … More

1271: please steal this phaco technique

We all learn from each other — that’s one of the best things about ophthalmology. My surgical techniques are an … More

1263: double hook pre-chop technique

Our guest surgeon, Dr Érico Jun Oda from Brazil, does a great job with this surgery. Using just two hooks … More

1252: how I handle soft cataracts

Soft cataracts require one important step for success: get the nucleus away from the posterior capsule. I like to accomplish … More

1243: resident surgeon stop-and-chop

This resident has done about 60 cataract surgeries as the primary surgeon and in this video she performs a routine … More

1235: convert to manual ECCE surgery

This case poses a big challenge: the posterior capsule ruptures and we realize this when there is suddenly a pronounced … More

1226: primary posterior capsulorhexis

There are some cases where it is preferable to make a primary posterior capsulorhexis at the time of cataract surgery … More

1220: white cataract phaco puncture

This is a resident case of an intumescent white cataract. We have covered this topic many times and the theme … More

1193: learning vertical chop phaco

Our guest surgeon today shows us a very nice vertical chop technique. This works well if the nucleus has a … More

1191: resident performs stop-and-chop

This video is about the 200th cataract surgery case being performed by this senior resident. The stop-and-chop technique is being … More

1190: guide for learning stop-and-chop

Not every ophthalmologist becomes proficient with phaco chop during residency training and that is acceptable since it can be learned … More

1187: don’t place the probe in the center

To achieve the best combo chop, you want to have a sufficient distance between the phaco probe and the chopper … More

1186: Capsulorhexis danger zones

When I participate in a meeting, I always learn much more than I teach. I recently gave a graduation lecture … More

1173: phaco aspiration of lens milk

Intumescent white cataracts can pose a problem with capsulorhexis creation. This is because the cortex has liquefied and pressurized the … More

1166: learn the phaco flip technique

In our Complete Cataract Case series, we present the technique of phaco flip. This is a great technique for a … More

1165: routine pseudo-exfoliation case

From our Complete Cataract Case series, this is a video of a patient with pseudo-exfoliation syndrome which can make the … More

1164: routine phaco chop complete case

From our Complete Cataract Case series, this is a video of a routine phaco chop case. It is not cherry … More

1159: Pre-Chopper Technique

The pre-chopper is an instrument that can be used to split a cataract prior to inserting the phaco probe. It … More

1154: posterior assisted levitation PAL

In this case the posterior capsule ruptures during hydro-dissection. With a wide open posterior capsule, the nucleus starts to descend … More

1137: too soft to chop, so tumble it

If you know a variety of different phaco techniques, it is easy to switch gears and shift to something that … More

1136: Refractive Lens Exchange Surgery

For high degrees of hyperopia in presbyopic patients, the best surgical solution is refractive lens exchange. For a younger patient, … More

1124: Pearls for learning MSICS

It may surprise you to know that many young ophthalmologists in the USA do not have experience performing MSICS. In … More

1115: no need to hook the lens equator

The original technique of phaco chop involved placing the chopper under the capsulorhexis edge and then around the lens equator. … More

1114: success with young cataract patients

When we are operating on a younger cataract patients, the stakes are higher and the surgery must last the patient … More

1106: thick cortex / epi-nucleus remains

In cases with insufficient hydro-dissection, we can be left with a thick cortex and epi-nuclear shell after performing hydro-delineation. How … More

1101: Infant Lensectomy Technique

While congenital cataracts are rare, they must be identified very early in an infant’s life and then often surgically treated. … More

1100: Very soft PSC cataract technique

This patient is young, under age 40, and has been suffering from posterior subcapsular cataracts for more than 1 year. … More

1098: Quad Camera Angles in surgery

This video was sent to us from Dr Felipe Ribeiro and Dr Andre Berger from Brazil and it features the … More

1096: converting from phaco to ECCE

There are rare times when it becomes important to convert from phaco to manual extra-capsular cataract extraction. This is one … More

1095: Where to place the chopper

Let’s admit that phaco chop can be a tough technique to learn. It requires both hands to perform a different … More

1094: The Key to Phaco Flip & Chop

Flip and chop is a great phaco technique for a lens nucleus of moderate density. In a very safe and … More

1087: how to perfect your case

In this complete cataract case, we are going to slow it down a bit and show you the subtleties that … More

1083: Playlist: Divide-and-Conquer

Divide and conquer is a popular technique of nucleus removal during cataract surgery and it is usually the first technique … More

1082: release of posterior synechiae

Our guest surgeon shows us his technique of using a spatula to release the posterior synechiae in this eye with … More

1079: you must learn SICS / ECCE

More than 20 years ago when I was a resident ophthalmologist at the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute, we performed … More

1072: epi-nucleus removal technique

In cases where we perform hydro-delineation and we have a separate epi-nuclear shell to remove, what is the best technique. … More

1061: soft cataracts the easy way

It would seem that performing cataract surgery on an eye with a soft cataract would be easier. Since there is … More

1029: First year in practice Cataract

Our guest surgeon showcases his stop-and-chop nucleo-fractis in a routine cataract surgery and his technique is excellent. He finished his … More

1010: Bimanual Phaco Technique

About 15 years ago, bimanual phaco was relatively popular. The idea is that by separating the infusion from the aspiration, … More