Complications of manual small-incision cataract surgery

The manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS) is instrumental in tackling cataract-induced blindness in developing countries, especially with a sizeable proportion being hard brunescent cataracts. MSICS has a unique set of complications related to wound construction, the creation of the capsular opening, and the technique of nuclear delivery. A poorly constructed sclero-corneal tunnel or a small capsulorhexis hampers the nuclear extraction, and the extensive intracameral maneuvers increase the chances of postoperative corneal edema and iritis. Though MSICS has been shown to have universal applicability, producing replicable visual outcomes requires a significant learning curve. This article reviews the relevant published literature on complications of MSICS utilizing the databases of PubMed, Medline, Cochrane, and Google Scholar.