The role of small incision suture-less cataract surgery in the developed world

Manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) has recently gone through much refinement and fine tuning. It is often taken as an alternate option for phacoemulsification, especially in developing country. This review will present some insight on its applications especially for developed nations. The role of MSCIS in tackling complex cataracts with stony hard nucleus is fairly established. The role of training residents with MSCIS has certain advantages though debatable.

MSCIS is much faster and cost-effective surgical technique often possible in suboptimal condition and avoids the capital and maintenance cost of phacoemulsification. The visual outcome and postoperative complications in both phacoemulsification and MSCIS are comparable. Slightly greater astigmatism in MSICS can be lessened with a slight modification of surgical technique. The successful application of MSCIS in large public health programmes has successfully helped to increase the cataract surgical rate and quality. It is the technique of choice for blindness control programme in developing country.

MSICS is established as safe and cost-effective procedure in developing country with results as good as phaoemulsification. Although it may not be the best option for developed nations, it is a valuable skill especially for surgical conversion and to deal with complex and advance cataract cases. Hence, it should be a part of resident training programme in developed world and it should be in the armamentarium of every cataract surgeon.