Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery: A Review
Rengaraj Venkatesh1, David F Chang, Radhakrishnan Muralikrishnan
1From the *Aravind Eye Hospital, Pondicherry, India; †The University of California, San Francisco, CA; ‡Cambridge Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom; §Dr. Gogate's Eye Clinic, Pune; and ¶Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India.
Summary
Manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) offers excellent safety and efficacy, comparable to phacoemulsification. This review highlights MSICS as a cost-effective option, particularly for developing nations.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Cataract surgery techniques are continually evolving to improve patient outcomes and accessibility.
- Manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) has emerged as a viable alternative to traditional methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review published peer-reviewed studies on the safety and efficacy of MSICS.
- To compare MSICS with phacoemulsification and extracapsular cataract surgery (ECCE).
Main Methods:
- Literature searches of PubMed and Cochrane Library were conducted.
- Studies with Level II and III evidence were analyzed.
- Surgical techniques and outcomes were compared across different procedures.
Main Results:
- MSICS demonstrates an excellent safety profile with complication rates comparable to phacoemulsification and ECCE.
- It is effective for complicated cataracts and associated conditions.
- MSICS offers shorter operative times and comparable visual outcomes to phacoemulsification.
Conclusions:
- MSICS provides excellent outcomes with low complication rates.
- It is a cost-effective and suitable option for high-volume cataract surgery, especially in developing countries.
