Efficacy of structured surgical-simulator training on the performance of ophthalmology residents during phacoemulsification surgery

PurposeWet lab training on animal eye and surgical simulators are being utilized to enhance surgical outcomes and reduce complications. The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of structured surgical simulator training in improving the phacoemulsification surgery skills of ophthalmology residents.MethodsA retrospective study of the resident cataract surgical program from November 2019 to November 2022. The residents during our study period were categorized into two groups: Group A, representing the period without mandatory wet-lab/simulator training, and Group B, representing the period following the introduction of mandatory wet-lab/ simulator training before supervised surgeries in the operating room. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative surgical data was collected and analyzed. The performance of resident cataract surgery in the two groups was compared. Outcome measures were the incidence of complications and mentor takeover rate.ResultsA total of 227 eyes were included in the study, 126 in group A and 101 in group B. Posterior capsule rupture was seen in 11 patients (8.73%) in Group A and 8 patients (5.94%) in Group B (<i>P</i> = 0.82) with a significantly lower need for surgeon takeover (26 cases (18.6%) in Group A and 9 cases (10.8%) in Group B (<i>p</i> = 0.015). Overall intraoperative and postoperative complication rates were lower in Group B (<i>p</i> = 0.18).ConclusionThese findings emphasize that integrating wet lab/simulator-based training into residency programs increases surgical independence of residents.