07/01/2026
Outside a temple, we all remove our shoes
because the place is sacred.
Though Operation Theatre is also sacred for us surgeons.
But thats not the sole reason why
we ophthalmologists remove our shoes before surgery
Most people know
that during cataract surgery
we use both our hands.
But very few people know
that we also use both our feet.
With one foot,
we control the microscope foot switch—
focusing, zooming in and out,
and moving the microscope along the X and Y axes.
With the other foot,
we control the phaco machine foot switch.
This level of fine control
is best achieved without shoes.
In our hands are the phaco probe
and a second instrument,
which allow us to safely aspirate
and remove the cataract.
An interesting fact, isn’t it?
Something you probably didn’t know before.”**
