title: The Evolution of Cataract Surgery: Controversies Through the Ages.
abstract: Cataracts have been in public consciousness since ancient times. Throughout the ages, the comfort of established practices, at times, has obstructed the implementation of improved policies. The opposition to lensectomy, hygiene practices, intraocular lenses, and phacoemulsification (phaco) are explored. As femtosecond laser cataract surgery attempts to secure a foothold in cataract treatment, we consider whether it is destined to be a forgotten footnote or if, like other contributions to the history books, the difficulties of establishing a new technique are abstracting the benefits represented.
authors.affiliation: From the *Vision Eye Institute, Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia; †University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; and ‡Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Aifric Isabel
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hodge