Eyeworld

32 | EYEWORLD | SUMMER 2024 ATARACT C by Mitchell Weikert, MD Cataract Editor T his issue of EyeWorld is the first to follow the ASCRS Annual Meeting, and while it was several months ago, it's still fresh in my mind. It's always great to return to historic Boston, and although we started off with a bit of a "chilly" reception, the weather soon cleared up, and we were able to take advantage of all the city had to offer. As usual, the meeting was a highlight of the year and provided invaluable opportunities to catch up with friends, network with colleagues, learn from experts in our field, and see what's coming down the road from industry. Among the myriad of offerings, a few highlights for me on the cataract side were the Charles D. Kelman, MD, Innovator's Lecture from David F. Chang, MD, the Cataract Clinical Committee's fast-paced Get H.I.P. (High Impact Pearls) symposium, and the Complicated and Challenging Cases Video Symposium. The Women Leading by Example panel discussion and the changing of the guard with the intro- duction of the new ASCRS President, Vance Thompson, MD, were also highlights. The theme of this EyeWorld issue is "I wish I had … ," where our contributors recall clinical challenges where they wish they made a differ- ent choice or technologies to which they wish they had access. In the first article in the section, Kendall Donaldson, MD, and Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, take a look at the current state of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS). In their discussion, they don't shy away from the dichotomy of opinions on the value of FLACS and address the pros and cons of this surgical tool. In addition to covering specific conditions that may benefit from FLACS, they drill down on the financial and logistical challenges faced when incorporating the femtosecond laser into a cataract surgical practice. Next up is a comparison of two comple- mentary techniques for cortical removal, coaxial and bimanual irrigation and aspiration (I/A). In this article, Cristos Ifantides, MD, MBA, and Rom Kandavel, MD, address the advantages and disadvantages of each method and make the case for each having a role in cataract surgery. For those unfamiliar with bimanual I/A, their detailed analysis provides recommendations on making the transition. I can very much relate to the last article in the section, "I wish I had… identified and treated ABMD before cataract surgery." Saba Al-Hashimi, MD, and Rahul Tonk, MD, review postoperative complaints that may be attributed to undiagnosed anterior basement membrane dystrophy (ABMD) and provide recommen- dations on how to establish the diagnosis for this easy-to-miss corneal pathology. They also provide insights into the effect of ABMD on preoperative measurements, tips on how to manage the condition, and advice on the timing of cataract surgery following treatment. We hope you enjoy this issue of EyeWorld, and our "wish" is that you'll take away some useful pearls for your cataract surgeries. Useful pearls for your cataract surgeries Dagny Zhu, MD, Cataract Editorial Board member, shared what she wishes she had: I wish we had a device that could accurately predict and simulate how each patient will see postoperatively with a presbyopia-cor- recting IOL so we can better screen poor candidates. Some of these devices exist, but the simulation for each IOL should vary from person to person according to each patient's optics, brain, and personality. Kevin Miller, MD, Cataract Editorial Board member, shared what he wishes he had: I wish lens implant manufacturers would produce a single-piece acrylic IOL with a large optic (7 mm), large haptic dimension (13.5 to 14 mm), rounded edges everywhere, and its own injector system that ophthal- mologists could safely implant into the ciliary sulcus or suture or otherwise fixate to the sclera. I WISH I HAD ...

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