Recent experiences suggest that posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation is as safe and successful as in adult surgery if performed by an experienced and well trained pediatric ophthalmologist. Surgery in very young children is best performed in a referral center by an ophthalmologist with reasonable experience in this field. Careful planning of surgical procedure, selection of IOL and use of appropriate IOL power calculation and postoperative management is critical for the success of pediatric cataract surgery. Surgical techniques are demanding because of elasticity of the capsule requiring both anterior and posterior capsulorhexis particularly in very young children. Maintenance of a clear visual axis is a long-term goal to prevent onset of amblyopia. The authors have addressed all these issues and more of pediatric surgery and provide useful practical tips. The book is profusely illustrated in addition to several instructive surgical videos. There is lack of integrated reference material on this subject and this book intends to fill this gap. The authors have between them cumulative experience of more than 25 years of visually rehabilitating these children. They provide a very rich resource for a comprehensive ophthalmologist who wishes to initiate cataract surgery in children.

Major problems associated with management of pediatric cataract are selection of optimal surgical technique, planning for aphakia, handling of technically difficult surgery, calculation of intraocular lens power whenever pseudophakia is planned, and the arduous postoperative care necessary in these specialized patients. The collection of surgical videos available with this book encompasses the current surgical recommendations and highlights the standard of care for pediatric cataract surgery today.

Planning for aphakia is one of the foremost challenges in these growing eyes. This book addresses issues of intraocular lens power calculation as well as selection of type of intraocular lens. Peculiar to this book is the authors’ experience of management of pediatric cataracts in the developing world. The socioeconomic status of parents of many children in developing countries would guide not only the selection of intraocular lens, but also the planning for aphakia as many parents may not be able to afford or provide optimal care for contact lens use in the children.

Because of the multitude of difficulties associated with pediatric cataract surgery, many surgeons performing excellent adult surgical procedures stay away from managing these children. Initiating some of them as well as providing ready reference material for clinicians already handling pediatric cataract surgery was the inspiration behind this book. The authors have endeavored to bring together guiding material on the intricacies of pediatric cataract surgery which is richly augmented by a large collection of excellent photographs highlighting various aspects of surgical management and outcomes.

The authors gratefully acknowledge the help and support of the faculty and staff of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh. The inspiration and guiding force provided by Professor Amod Gupta, Chief of the department, deserves special mention.

The authors wish to thank Dr. Virender Arya, Associate Professor in the department of Anesthesia, at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, who contributed the chapter on anesthesia for pediatric cataract surgery and Dr Sushmita Kaushik for significant help.

The excellent compilation and layout provided by M/S Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd., New Delhi has greatly improved the presentation of this book.

Lastly, the greatest inspiration for this book has been the children we have treated. They have been our greatest teachers, and without them this work would not have seen the light of day.