Contrary to fashionable belief, expensive equipment is no obligatory, indeed, particularly if not well maintained, it can be a positive hindrance. It certainly raises the cost at the outset and can often increase the possibility of things going wrong at any time later.

Manual phaco is relevant to both the developing and the developed world and DrKamaljeet Singh and his co-authors have succeeded admirably in their attempt to cover the subject in all its aspects. Each chapter gives step by step instruction that will delight the converted and tempt those not yet persuaded of its importance.

From the start of my career I have tried not to be dependent on complicated equipment except where necessity commands and not only is manual phaco-section my chosen approach to the cataract of others, it would also be to my own, where surgery ever to be necessary.

Unfortunately, the benefits of improved technology and technique in phacoemulsification are being availed by a fortunate, comparatively wealthy few in the developing world. Majority of the masses has to go through the ordeal of intracapsular surgery with its attendant hazards of aphakic spectacles. In recent times at least ECCE IOL has been made available to the teeming millions of the developing world, thanks to the untiring efforts of the WHO. But sutures, astigmatism and complications like posterior capsular opacification and decentration accompany this surgery.

Therefore, on one end of the spectrum we have phaco surgery with foldable lenses practiced by the resourceful surgeons and availed by the wealthy few. While on the other, patients coming from the lower strata of society have to bear with aphakic spectacles. In fact, in a developing country like India, our primary goal should be to strive hard to provide all the benefits to the common man at minimum possible costs. In achieving this goal, manual phaco or the non-phaco small incision cataract surgery (SICS) can be extremely helpful. It has almost all the advantages of phacoemulsification, namely, less astigmatism, early mobility, less decentration and at the same time, is as inexpensive as ECCEIOL. This book has been written precisely with the above-mentioned goal in mind. The main purpose of this book is to explain the various surgical manouvers with diagrams, photographs and a detailed text. Simple steps, explained in easy language, are the hallmark of this book. It is hoped that this may stimulate the reader towards this surgery, which may prove to be significant for easy transition. An attempt has been made to acquaint the reader with almost all the subjects of IOL surgery by this technique so that he does not feel the need to turn to any other book.

The book begins with the history of cataract surgery, which is so important to understand as the technique has evolved tremendously in a very short span of time. Preoperative evaluation and various anesthetic techniques are very significant in giving good surgical results. Subjects like diabetes and hypertension management have been specially included in the book as they have become so widespread that their effective management must be clear to all the surgeons. An effort has been made to describe all the techniques of nucleus delivery to achieve the same objective, that is, a sutureless anastigmatic result. Readers are requested to go through each chapter with care and form their own impression of the benefits and risks involved in each technique. It is advisable to follow the systemic approach of one step and one technique at a time. Postoperative complications and their management pertaining to this particular surgery have also been dealt with exhaustively. Management of endophthalmitis, posterior dislocation of lens and posterior capsular opacification 14form separate chapters in this book due to their significance in obtaining good surgical outcome. Paediatric cataract surgery through tunnel—a complicated subject has also been extensively covered.

Eminent surgeons, of national and international repute, who have a vast experience and knowledge in this particular field of surgery, have contributed in this book. They are confident of this surgery, have provided excellent results and through their concisely written chapters, with photographs and diagrams, have provided substance to this book. I am extremely grateful to them for giving their best in the shortest possible time. Finally, this book would be considered successful only if the reader could deliver the objective of providing good vision at economical cost to maximum number of patients.

I am indebted to many colleagues and residents in the department who have not only drawn the diagrams but also painstakingly read the proofs for which I especially acknowledge Dr Sanjay Sharma, Dr Sumeet Jain, Dr Pawan Kumar and Dr Riyaz Khan. I also thank Dr JD Jain and Dr AK Chadha for their valuable suggestions.

I extend my gratitude to my two special residents–Dr BN Chowdhary and Dr KS Kathait, who have worked with me for over three years and have suggested several improvements in the technique of manual small incision cataract surgery.

My thanks are also extended to Alcon Labs (India) for providing beautiful illustrations as well as to the Journal Survey of Ophthalmology (Elsevier) and The Highlights of Ophthalmology for their copyright permission for the Table No and Figure No.

I also wish to express my gratitude to Mr Jitendar Vij and the staff of Jaypee Brothers who never got ruffled by my regular urgent calls for preparation of this manuscript. Mr Vinod and Mr Vivek Naithani of Allahabad, the father and son team, did the typing work with meticulous accuracy, to them I am highly obliged.

I will fail in my duty if I do not thank my wife Dr Anuja for her help and timely suggestions, as also for calming me in my moments of anxiety while I was preparing this book.

My special appreciation to Anuja, my daughter Manika and my son Pranav, for patiently bearing the loss of special moments in the preparation of this mammoth task.

I am extremely grateful to Dr Hector Bryson Chawla, who despite his busy schedule always gave me a helping hand and never disappointed for any demand. I am also thankful to Dr Jongsareejit for his timely response.