Posters

Patient perception of cataract surgery simulation

Poster Details

First Author: M.Ali Ahmad UK

Co Author(s): H. Naveed   R. Krishnan   S. Abou-Ltaif   T. Kersey           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Simulation provides a virtual, repeatable and graded environment to master surgical skill in a safe and effective manner. Whilst there has been an increasing emphasis on incorporating simulation in cataract surgery training, the patient perception of this modality and its role in training remains unknown. Our study explored the views of patients regarding cataract surgery simulation and its role in training by getting them to perform virtual cataract surgery using the tablet-based cataract simulator developed by Touch Surgery.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, UK.

Methods:

50 patients were approached to provide their opinions on the iPad-based cataract surgery simulator (developed by Touch Surgery). Their responses were recorded on a validated questionnaire based on a 5-point Likert Scale. The primary objective was to gauge the patient perception regarding cataract surgery in a virtual reality setting.

Results:

Of the respondents, 70% were of the opinion that simulators are widely used in surgical training. 80% of patients felt that they should be compulsory, and 70% would feel safer having an operation by a surgeon trained on simulators. Another 70% desired their surgeon to be trained on simulators and believed that additional simulator training resulted in better surgeons. Moreover, none of the participants were of the opinion that they want their operation to be performed by a surgeon who had not trained on a simulator.

Conclusions:

The lay public perceives simulation as a key training tool to produce safer cataract surgeons. This study provides a basis to increase the provision of cataract surgery simulation so it is more widely used in training the next generation of ophthalmologists.

Financial Disclosure:

None