We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Elizabeth Du, M.D.
This comprehensive course will give you the fundamental knowledge needed to begin performing cataract surgery by phacoemulsification and extracapsular removal. Each step from preoperative evaluation to postoperative care will be covered to help prepare you for the operating room.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/beh0s2/introduction
Here's a deal for you
Save money when you learn with a deal that may be relevant to this course.
All coupon codes, vouchers, and discounts are applied automatically unless otherwise noted.
Get offer
What's inside
Syllabus
Unit 1: Prior to the Operating Room
This unit describes what needs to take place prior to getting the patient to the operating room. Although this unit may seem trivial, knowing when to make the decision to do surgery, having a good informed consent discussion, selecting an intraocular lens and anesthetic type are critical to a successful surgery and happy patient.
Read more
Syllabus
Unit 1: Prior to the Operating Room
This unit describes what needs to take place prior to getting the patient to the operating room. Although this unit may seem trivial, knowing when to make the decision to do surgery, having a good informed consent discussion, selecting an intraocular lens and anesthetic type are critical to a successful surgery and happy patient.
Read more
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Teaches phacoemulsification and extracapsular cataract surgery, which is standard in ophthalmic practice
Taught by Elizabeth Du, M.D. who is recognized in the field of ophthalmology
Builds a strong foundation for beginners in cataract surgery
Covers each step from preoperative evaluation to postoperative care in surgery
Save this course
Create your own learning path.
Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save
Save
Reviews summary
Comprehensive cataract surgery introduction
According to learners, this course offers a highly valuable foundation in cataract surgery, particularly focusing on phacoemulsification and ECCE. Students frequently highlight its comprehensive nature, covering everything from pre-operative evaluation and IOL selection to surgical techniques, post-operative care, and managing complications. The course is praised for its step-by-step approach, making complex procedures more accessible. Reviewers find the content practical and directly applicable, serving as an excellent introduction for beginners or a solid review for those with some experience. While it provides essential theoretical knowledge, it's noted that practical surgical skills must be gained through hands-on training.
Lack of hands-on practice is inherent.
"While excellent for theory, an online course cannot replicate hands-on surgical training. This is expected, though."
"You still need to practice in a wet lab or simulation, but the course provides the mental framework."
"The course is a great theoretical basis, but you can't learn surgery just from watching videos online."
"Understandably, the practical surgical skills acquisition is not part of this format."
Well-organized and easy to follow.
"The course structure, broken down into units from pre-op to complications, was very logical and easy to follow."
"Explanations were clear and concise, making even the more complex surgical steps understandable."
"I appreciated the step-by-step breakdown of the operative procedure in Unit 2 and 3."
"The lectures were presented clearly and reinforced key concepts effectively."
Excellent starting point for learners.
"As a resident preparing for surgery, this course gave me a solid theoretical foundation that I needed before assisting or operating."
"Great introductory course for anyone new to the field of cataract surgery. Highly recommended for beginners."
"It helped solidify my understanding of the core principles and rationale behind each surgical maneuver."
"Perfect for reviewing the fundamentals even if you have some prior exposure to the topic."
Provides knowledge directly useful for practice.
"I found the tips and tricks for managing difficult cases extremely practical and immediately applicable to my learning."
"The strategies for complication management were clear and helpful. This knowledge is essential for the operating room."
"It translates complex surgical steps into understandable procedures, giving me practical insights for visualization."
"The focus on real-world challenges makes this course incredibly valuable for future practice."
Covers all critical steps from start to finish.
"This course was incredibly thorough, covering everything from patient selection to post-op complications. A true end-to-end overview."
"I appreciated how it covered the entire process - the pre-op unit was surprisingly helpful for understanding patient consent and IOL choices."
"It goes through every step of the surgery methodically. I feel much more prepared for the whole surgical journey."
"Everything from anesthesia options to managing posterior capsular rupture is discussed. Very complete."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Introduction to Cataract Surgery with these
activities:
Volunteer at Eye Clinic
Show steps
Gain valuable hands-on experience and interact with patients in a real-world ophthalmology setting.
Browse courses on
Hands-on Experience
Show steps
-
Contact local eye clinics to inquire about volunteer opportunities.
-
Complete any necessary training or orientation.
-
Assist with patient care and administrative tasks.
Review: Pre-operative Evaluation
Show steps
Prepare for the first unit in this course by reviewing the process of evaluating a patient before cataract surgery.
Show steps
-
Gather information about patient history and medical conditions.
-
Review patient's medications and allergies.
-
Explain the surgical procedure and risks to the patient.
-
Obtain informed consent from the patient.
-
Select the appropriate intraocular lens for the patient.
Case Study Discussion Group
Show steps
Engage with peers to discuss and analyze real-life cataract surgery cases.
Browse courses on
Case Studies
Show steps
-
Review a provided case study.
-
Participate in a group discussion to analyze the case.
-
Share insights and perspectives with peers.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Phacoemulsification Simulation
Show steps
Gain hands-on experience in cataract removal through a simulation.
Show steps
-
Set up the simulation equipment.
-
Practice fragmenting and removing the cataract.
-
Control the irrigation and aspiration during the procedure.
-
Evaluate the outcome of the simulation.
Surgical Plan Presentation
Show steps
Apply your knowledge by creating a comprehensive surgical plan for a cataract surgery patient.
Show steps
-
Identify the patient and their specific condition.
-
Develop a detailed plan for the surgical procedure.
-
Present the surgical plan to a mock audience.
Intraoperative Complications Management
Show steps
Enhance your knowledge of handling potential complications during cataract surgery.
Show steps
-
Identify and review common intraoperative complications.
-
Learn strategies for managing these complications.
-
Practice these techniques through guided tutorials.
Contribute to Cataract Surgery Forum
Show steps
Engage with the broader cataract surgery community by actively participating in an online forum.
Browse courses on
Knowledge Sharing
Show steps
-
Join the cataract surgery forum.
-
Share your knowledge and experiences.
-
Answer questions from other forum members.
Volunteer at Eye Clinic
Show steps
Gain valuable hands-on experience and interact with patients in a real-world ophthalmology setting.
Browse courses on
Hands-on Experience
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Contact local eye clinics to inquire about volunteer opportunities.
- Complete any necessary training or orientation.
- Assist with patient care and administrative tasks.
Review: Pre-operative Evaluation
Show steps
Prepare for the first unit in this course by reviewing the process of evaluating a patient before cataract surgery.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Gather information about patient history and medical conditions.
- Review patient's medications and allergies.
- Explain the surgical procedure and risks to the patient.
- Obtain informed consent from the patient.
- Select the appropriate intraocular lens for the patient.
Case Study Discussion Group
Show steps
Engage with peers to discuss and analyze real-life cataract surgery cases.
Browse courses on
Case Studies
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Review a provided case study.
- Participate in a group discussion to analyze the case.
- Share insights and perspectives with peers.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Phacoemulsification Simulation
Show steps
Gain hands-on experience in cataract removal through a simulation.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Set up the simulation equipment.
- Practice fragmenting and removing the cataract.
- Control the irrigation and aspiration during the procedure.
- Evaluate the outcome of the simulation.
Surgical Plan Presentation
Show steps
Apply your knowledge by creating a comprehensive surgical plan for a cataract surgery patient.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify the patient and their specific condition.
- Develop a detailed plan for the surgical procedure.
- Present the surgical plan to a mock audience.
Intraoperative Complications Management
Show steps
Enhance your knowledge of handling potential complications during cataract surgery.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify and review common intraoperative complications.
- Learn strategies for managing these complications.
- Practice these techniques through guided tutorials.
Contribute to Cataract Surgery Forum
Show steps
Engage with the broader cataract surgery community by actively participating in an online forum.
Browse courses on
Knowledge Sharing
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Join the cataract surgery forum.
- Share your knowledge and experiences.
- Answer questions from other forum members.
Career center
Learners who complete Introduction to Cataract Surgery will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Ophthalmic Surgeon
Ophthalmic Surgeon
An Ophthalmic Surgeon performs surgical operations on the eye to treat cataracts. This course, which teaches the basics of cataract surgery, would provide a solid foundation for a career as an Ophthalmic Surgeon. The course covers topics such as preoperative evaluation, intraocular lens placement, and cataract complications. This knowledge would be essential for success in the field of ophthalmic surgery.
Ophthalmic Technician
Ophthalmic Technician
An Ophthalmic Technician assists Ophthalmologists in providing patient care. This course would be helpful for someone interested in becoming an Ophthalmic Technician. The course covers topics such as preoperative evaluation, intraocular lens placement, and cataract complications. This knowledge would be beneficial for an Ophthalmic Technician to have in order to assist Ophthalmologists in providing patient care.
Optometrist
Optometrist
An Optometrist provides primary eye care, including the diagnosis and treatment of cataracts. This course would be helpful for someone interested in becoming an Optometrist. The course covers topics such as preoperative evaluation, intraocular lens placement, and cataract complications. This knowledge would be beneficial for an Optometrist to have in order to provide primary eye care.
Ophthalmic Nurse
Ophthalmic Nurse
An Ophthalmic Nurse provides nursing care to patients with eye conditions, including cataracts. This course would be helpful for someone interested in becoming an Ophthalmic Nurse. The course covers topics such as preoperative evaluation, intraocular lens placement, and cataract complications. This knowledge would be beneficial for an Ophthalmic Nurse to have in order to provide nursing care to patients with eye conditions.
Ophthalmic Pathologist
Ophthalmic Pathologist
An Ophthalmic Pathologist examines eye tissue to diagnose and treat eye diseases, including cataracts. This course would be helpful for someone interested in becoming an Ophthalmic Pathologist. The course covers topics such as preoperative evaluation, intraocular lens placement, and cataract complications. This knowledge would be beneficial for an Ophthalmic Pathologist to have in order to examine eye tissue to diagnose and treat eye diseases.
Vision Scientist
Vision Scientist
A Vision Scientist conducts research on the visual system, including the causes and treatment of cataracts. This course would be helpful for someone interested in becoming a Vision Scientist. The course covers topics such as preoperative evaluation, intraocular lens placement, and cataract complications. This knowledge would be beneficial for a Vision Scientist to have in order to conduct research on the visual system.
Biomedical Engineer
Biomedical Engineer
A Biomedical Engineer designs and develops medical devices, including those used in cataract surgery. This course would be helpful for someone interested in becoming a Biomedical Engineer. The course covers topics such as preoperative evaluation, intraocular lens placement, and cataract complications. This knowledge would be beneficial for a Biomedical Engineer to have in order to design and develop medical devices.
Pharmaceutical Scientist
Pharmaceutical Scientist
A Pharmaceutical Scientist develops and tests drugs, including those used to treat cataracts. This course would be helpful for someone interested in becoming a Pharmaceutical Scientist. The course covers topics such as preoperative evaluation, intraocular lens placement, and cataract complications. This knowledge would be beneficial for a Pharmaceutical Scientist to have in order to develop and test drugs.
Medical Device Sales Representative
Medical Device Sales Representative
A Medical Device Sales Representative sells medical devices, including those used in cataract surgery. This course would be helpful for someone interested in becoming a Medical Device Sales Representative. The course covers topics such as preoperative evaluation, intraocular lens placement, and cataract complications. This knowledge would be beneficial for a Medical Device Sales Representative to have in order to sell medical devices.
Healthcare Administrator
Healthcare Administrator
A Healthcare Administrator manages the operations of a healthcare facility, including those that provide cataract surgery. This course would be helpful for someone interested in becoming a Healthcare Administrator. The course covers topics such as preoperative evaluation, intraocular lens placement, and cataract complications. This knowledge would be beneficial for a Healthcare Administrator to have in order to manage the operations of a healthcare facility.
Public Health Educator
Public Health Educator
A Public Health Educator promotes health and wellness, including eye health. This course would be helpful for someone interested in becoming a Public Health Educator. The course covers topics such as preoperative evaluation, intraocular lens placement, and cataract complications. This knowledge would be beneficial for a Public Health Educator to have in order to promote eye health.
Science Writer
Science Writer
A Science Writer writes about scientific topics, including medical advances in cataract surgery. This course would be helpful for someone interested in becoming a Science Writer. The course covers topics such as preoperative evaluation, intraocular lens placement, and cataract complications. This knowledge would be beneficial for a Science Writer to have in order to write about scientific topics.
Patent Attorney
Patent Attorney
A Patent Attorney helps inventors protect their intellectual property, including inventions related to cataract surgery. This course would be helpful for someone interested in becoming a Patent Attorney. The course covers topics such as preoperative evaluation, intraocular lens placement, and cataract complications. This knowledge would be beneficial for a Patent Attorney to have in order to help inventors protect their intellectual property.
Medical Librarian
Medical Librarian
A Medical Librarian manages and provides access to medical information, including information on cataract surgery. This course would be helpful for someone interested in becoming a Medical Librarian. The course covers topics such as preoperative evaluation, intraocular lens placement, and cataract complications. This knowledge would be beneficial for a Medical Librarian to have in order to manage and provide access to medical information.
Health Policy Analyst
Health Policy Analyst
A Health Policy Analyst analyzes health policy, including policies related to cataract surgery. This course would be helpful for someone interested in becoming a Health Policy Analyst. The course covers topics such as preoperative evaluation, intraocular lens placement, and cataract complications. This knowledge would be beneficial for a Health Policy Analyst to have in order to analyze health policy.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/beh0s2/introduction
Reading list
We've selected ten books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Introduction to Cataract Surgery.
Save
Comprehensive and up-to-date textbook on cataract surgery. It covers all aspects of the procedure, from preoperative evaluation to postoperative care.
A comprehensive textbook on cataract surgery, covering techniques, complications, and management. Provides in-depth knowledge beyond the scope of the course, serving as an excellent reference for practicing surgeons.
Comprehensive atlas of cataract surgery, with over 1,000 high-quality images illustrating the surgical techniques. It valuable resource for both beginning and experienced cataract surgeons.
Practical and concise guide to cataract surgery, written by two experienced cataract surgeons. It provides step-by-step instructions on the surgical techniques and discusses the potential complications and how to manage them.
Concise and practical guide to cataract surgery, written by an experienced surgeon. It provides step-by-step instructions on the surgical techniques and discusses the potential complications and how to manage them.
Concise and practical guide to cataract surgery, written by a leading cataract surgeon. It covers all aspects of the procedure, from preoperative evaluation to postoperative care.
A highly specialized book focusing on phacoemulsification, a common technique in cataract surgery. Offers advanced insights and techniques not covered in the course, making it suitable for surgeons seeking to refine their skills.
A practical guide that takes a step-by-step approach to cataract surgery. Provides clear instructions and illustrations, making it suitable for surgeons of all levels seeking to refine their techniques or gain a comprehensive understanding of the surgical process.
A practical guide designed for surgeons in training or those seeking to refresh their knowledge. Provides step-by-step instructions and clear illustrations, complementing the theoretical foundations covered in the course.
A comprehensive guide that addresses both glaucoma and cataracts, offering a holistic perspective on these conditions. Provides valuable insights for surgeons managing patients with co-existing diseases, as well as those seeking to expand their knowledge in both areas.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/beh0s2/introduction
Share
Similar courses
Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Rating
4.8
Effort
Approx. 10 hours
Level
Advanced
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of Michigan
Instructor
Elizabeth Du, M.D.
Language
English
Transcripts
Español
Français
Português
Deutsch
Italiano
中文
العربية
한국어
日本語
हिंदी
Nederlands
Svenska
Pусский
Türkçe
Polski
Ελληνικά
українська мова
Bahasa Indonesia
ไทย
қазақша
Our mission
OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.
Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.
Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.
Affiliate disclosure
We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.
Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.
Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.
© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser