Evidence based training in vitreoretinal surgery
Frank H. J. Koch (Frankfurt/M.)
Other than in pig
eye labs, the vitreoretinal training on the newly designed practice eye
and in
the VRmagic simulator allows
1. an intensified training on different vitrectomy mashines,
2. to practice suture and incision techniques, to train wide field observation
and test basic and advanced technology instruments working with the practice
eye under the table microscope and
3. to perform multiple surgical intervention in a realistic virtual reality
setup, where the removal of vitreous and blood, the detachment of the
posterior vitreous base, the removal of anterior vitreous under indentation
of the eye wall, the peeling of diabetic membrane, macula puckers and
of the inner limiting membrane as well as the repair of retinal defect
with laser are some of the highlights.
All work in the simulator can be objectively evaluated (time, success
rates, scores etc.), the training effect and progress in the simulator
has been proven to shorten the learning curve and to improve the procedure
in
the real human eye.