This book is designed as a course manual for cataract and refractive surgery. It starts off by discussing both the fluidics and dynamics of phacoemulsification, touching techniques and management of difficult scenarios. The ins and outs of conventional, accommodative, toric and the newer upcoming experimental pseudoaccomodative intraocular lens (IOL) models are highlighted.
A comprehensive review of different types of phakic IOLs, their indications, insertion techniques and complications are given. The management of keratoconus with phakic IOLs combined with collagen crosslinking and intracorneal implants are elucidated.
A large proportion of the book is dedicated to laser assisted cataract and refractive surgery, which may or may not be the immediate future, but nevertheless heralds an important evolutionary milestone that merits familiarisation of techniques and challenges.
Femtosecond cataract surgery assists wound construction, capsulotomy, fragmentation of lens nucleus, and relaxing incisions to correct corneal astigmatism. The chapter on laser assisted cataract surgery highlights the procedure of predocking, followed by the programming or docking and then ultimately demonstrates the surgical phase where the surgeon completes the tissue dissection and proceeds with further surgery. The trouble shooting advice on difficulties and complications is useful. Femtosecond LASIK, FLEx and SMILE procedures for corneal lenticular extraction are illustrated and the last chapter in the book discusses intracorneal ring segment implants (ICRS) for correction of presbyopia and myopia, now currently being used to treat iatrogenic and natural corneal ectasia.
Suggested improvements for future editions: Since this book is a training guide for surgery and an update on technical advancements for both cataract and refractive surgery, the title Cataract in this context is misleading, so perhaps a revision of the title to match the contents is suggested. Also because this book is a course manual the addition of a CD-ROM demonstrating different surgical procedures will certainly prove a useful adjunct to future editions so that potential skill-seekers can revisit and refresh procedures.
