Evolution of manual small-incision cataract surgery from 8 mm to 2 mm - A comprehensive review

Cataract is the most common cause of reversible blindness worldwide, accounting for approximately 50% of blindness worldwide. Cataract surgery is the most common surgical procedure performed in routine ophthalmic practice. It has undergone tremendous evolution, and the incision size has progressively reduced from 10-12 mm in extracapsular cataract surgery (ECCE) to 6-8 mm for manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS) and 2.2-2.8 mm in phacoemulsification. In a developing country like India, with a massive backlog of cataract, everyone cannot afford private surgery like phacoemulsification. Moreover, annual maintenance of the machine, cost of foldable IOLs, need for greater skill, learning curve, and difficulty in performing the surgery in mature and brown cataracts are other barriers. Due to these factors, MSICS is the surgery of choice in the developing world, with profound societal and economic benefits and similar visual recovery compared to phacoemulsification. During the last two decades, MSICS gained popularity in developing countries and has undergone tremendous advances. This article aims to review the various techniques of MSICS and how the surgery has evolved over the years, particularly focusing on the current technique of 2-mm MSICS.