Ophthalmology
Iris-claw IOL implantation: Indications, outcomes and complications
This article has been verified for CPD. Click the button below to answer a few short questions and download a form to be included in your CPD folder. A comprehensive study evaluating the clinical indications, visual outcomes and complication rates...
Are hospital cataract services managing more complex cases?
An audit of referral pathways and case mix in hospital cataract services. Cataract is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, causing severe visual impairment, particularly within ageing populations [1]. Gradual lens opacification impairs contrast sensitivity, visual acuity and overall...
From monofocal to premium: Understanding the expanding landscape of intraocular lenses
For many years cataract surgery was framed almost entirely as a restorative procedure. The goal was straightforward: remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear one, restoring distance vision and allowing the patient to function comfortably with reading...
Intraocular surgery and dry eye: Understanding the link, minimising the risk and preparing for the future
Dry eye disease (DED) and ocular surface disease (OSD) are increasingly recognised as central factors in contemporary intraocular surgery. As cataract, glaucoma and vitreoretinal procedures advance toward greater refractive precision, patient expectations have risen and tolerance for postoperative visual fluctuation...
‘Phaco-plus’ procedures at forefront of modern glaucoma management
Glaucoma and cataract increasingly present as a ‘two-in-one’ surgical opportunity. In the UK, new modelling suggests ~1 million adults aged ≥40 may currently have glaucoma, with a projected rise to ~1.6 million by 2060 as the population ages and demographics...
Maximising the ocular surface prior to cataract surgery: The old and the new modalities of treatment
Cataract surgery is among the most commonly performed surgical procedures worldwide. Over time, it has evolved from a lens-extraction procedure into a refractive intervention that demands meticulous perioperative planning and precision to achieve optimal outcomes. Optimisation of the ocular surface...
Dropless cataract surgery
Dropless cataract surgery (DCS) describes the complete provision of anti-inflammatory and antibiotic prophylaxis intraoperatively. This eliminates the need for postoperative eyedrops to be self-administered by the patient and thus is also known as ‘dropless after cataract surgery’ (DACS) (n.b. this...
The role of artificial intelligence in cataract surgery: An overview
Cataracts are still a leading cause of blindness and, with an ageing population, that burden will only grow [1]. Increasingly experts are leaning on technology such as ‘Surgery 4.0’ [2] – where smart machines and artificial intelligence (AI) slide into...
Intraocular lens choice in patients who have undergone previous corneal refractive surgery
Patients who underwent vision correction in their 20s to 40s are now entering their 50s and 60s, the typical starting age for cataract development [1]. Consequently, ophthalmologists are increasingly encountering patients whose corneal profiles have been surgically altered, requiring advanced...
Astigmatism correction in cataract surgery: Why are we still hesitating?
Toric spectacle lenses were first described in 1847 by George Biddell Airy, and their adoption was, presumably, gradual at that time. Today, correction of astigmatism with glasses is routine. In a recent survey, 87.2% of spectacle prescriptions contained at least...
Cataract surgery in corneal disease
Cataract surgery in the presence of corneal disease presents multiple challenges, from determining whether symptoms are lenticular or corneal in origin, to decisions regarding timing of surgery, intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation, IOL selection, surgical technique and perioperative care. Realistic...
Everyone has a plan, until their hand goes numb…
Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed surgical procedure in the UK [1]. With financially strained NHS trusts and the rise of independent sector cataract providers, the drive from initiatives like Get It Right First Time (GIRFT) and market pressures...
