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Behind the scenes · 9 min

A day on the surgical list

Six cataract operations in a morning. What the day looks like from inside the theatre.

Before the first case

The list is reviewed with the whole team — anaesthetist, scrub nurse, technician. Lens powers are checked twice, against two separate calculations.

Between cases

Instruments are turned around, the microscope is reset, and the next patient's biometry comes up on screen. The checks do not shorten as the morning goes on.

The routine is the point. Routine is what makes it safe.

Dr Elena Hartley, Cataract & Corneal Surgeon

Demo build — this article is placeholder copy and has not been written or reviewed by a clinician. It is not medical advice.