AIM:To explore the surgical techniques and the techniques of the small pupil cataract surgery. METHODS: Small scleral tunnel incision 42 cases(46 eyes) of small pupil cataract patients. We use viscoelastic solution after blunt separation of posterior synechia, or pupillary margin of radial cut to expand the pupil, extracapsular cataract extraction, and then plant intraocular lens(IOL). RESULTS: Following up 6 to 18 months,Visual acuity improved in all cases. Postoperative best corrected visual acuity was 0.04- 0.1 in 8 eyes(17%) , 0.2- 0.5 in 18 eyes (39%),0.6-1.0 in 20 eyes (44%) . Visual acuities less than 0.1 were attributed to posterior segment abnormalities. No serious complications were found. CONCLUSION: When we select the right indications and surgical techniques properly, cataract extraction and IOL implantation through small pupils with small incision of scleral tunnel can obtain good clinical effects.