Modern Ophthalmic Viscoelastic Devices (OVD), also called viscoelastics, form a central part of ocular surgery. Starting off as a replacement for vitreous in its early development, viscoelastics became the gate opener for modern cataract surgery in the 1980s and 1990s.Without OVDs the advancement of modern cataract surgery as we know it would not have been possible. Indirectly, advanced intraocular lenses, such as multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) technology, toric IOLs or even accommodative IOLs could not have been developed.OVDs have opened up new fields of surgery, such as visco-glaucoma surgery, and are used in all kinds of eye surgery today.This book combines basic knowledge about the physical and chemical abilities of OVDs. Its clinical use in different situations, starting from cataract surgery through to all kinds of ophthalmo-surgical procedures as well as intravitreal interventions tries to cover almost all clinical situations where OVDs could be applied. It gives the reader "tips and tricks" from the expert for their use and so this book not only helps the young resident starting in ophthalmic surgery, but also holds some interesting "pearls" for the experienced surgeon.
