Phacoemulsification performed in a modified waiting room chair

Patients unable to fully recline represent challenging cases for the cataract surgeon. Various diseases of the heart, lungs, and spine may prevent certain patients from assuming a supine position, complicating the surgical approach and increasing the risk of intraoperative complications. We altered a common waiting room chair to allow these patients to remain in an upright seated position while their heads maintain the usual supine position commonly obtained with patients positioned on an operating room table.