Cataract surgery in the patient that cannot lie flat

At times a patient requiring cataract surgery cannot be positioned flat rendering the case challenging. In addition, sometimes the medical condition that limits the patient's ability to lie supine also carries an increased risk of being placed under general anesthesia making topical anesthesia a safer option. The surgeon must often use ingenuity in positioning in order to carry out a successful surgery. This review will highlight different techniques employed for cataract surgery in a patient that cannot lie supine.

There is a small amount of published literature describing techniques of cataract surgery in the patient who cannot lie supine. We hope to highlight the various techniques that have been described in the literature.

Cataract surgery can become more complex when the patient cannot be positioned with their head flat on the operating table. With creative alterations to normal positioning, successful phacoemulsification can be executed.