Hello friends!

In January 2025, I had the incredible good fortune to perform my first live cataract surgery in Chennai, incidentally becoming the youngest to do so on a national platform.

Words fall short as I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Mohan Rajan sir, Dr. Sujatha Mohan ma’am, and the team at Rajan Eye Care and Young Ophthalmologists Society of India for their incredible hospitality and support.

⚡️What is live surgery?

I’m glad you asked. Live streaming has undergone phenomenal advancements and medical conferences now take advantage of this by showcasing surgeons who perform and demonstrate common surgeries live from the operation theatre to an audience sitting kilometres away in a seminar room. A modern-day theatre experience.

⚡️What is it like to perform live surgery?

In short, surreal.

The truth is that you will never know that you’re ready for live surgery. All you can do is continue to give your best on the operating table, and one day the opportunity will knock on the door.

On judgement day, you arrive early, and as customary you examine your patient, review the paperwork, deposit your instruments, inspect the phaco machine and double-check the IOL you are going to implant. The atmosphere of the operating theatre on the morning of surgery is absolutely electric! ⚡️

Then the wait begins for your turn. You watch everyone around you, move like clockwork as you keep an eye on other surgeons hoping to imbibe their best skills and practices when it’s your turn. Here you learn that this isn’t a test or game of skill, but one of composure. The calmest mind wins.

Finally, it’s your turn, and you head over to scrub up. Wearing your gown, you sit on the hot seat and adjust your microscope. You look at the patient, fashion the way you are sitting on more time and focus on the target. The moderator introduces you, and the mic is yours! From that point on, in a quick blur, with the support of everyone in the room, you complete your case, and the rest is history.

I performed live cataract surgery, demonstrating some key aspects of cataract emulsification techniques. The surgery took around 6-7 minutes and was live-streamed to an audience of 200 and many more on YouTube.

Truly, surreal. A feeling like no other, to be able to share skills, knowledge, and learning, while growing and rising on such a beautiful platform. The best part? In the end, you realise that this is just the beginning. 🌟

You can watch the recorded live stream here.

Until next time,

Anujeet.

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The Devotion of Suspect X - Keigo Higashino

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"Youth is wasted on the young"

- Twelve Caesars

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Always Remember Us This Way - Lady Gaga