It might be imagined that apart from the quantum leap in technology imparted by the arrival of laparoscopy and endoscopy, there is little scope to modify surgery that has stood the test of time over many decades. That is a consideration when thinking only of operative surgery and as all surgeons young or old will tell you, surgery encompasses much more than just operating – it is the management...

MANY ophthalmic operations can be performed under local analgesia and this technique is used with satisfaction in all parts of the world today; in fact many surgeons and consultant anaesthetists are satisfied that the best results are obtained by this method. On the other hand, general anaesthesia is used much more than formerly and in some centres it is used routinely for most operations, incl...