[EyeSi surgical simulator: Construct validity of capsulorhexis, phacoemulsification and irrigation and aspiration modules].

PURPOSE

To compare performance on the EyeSi surgical simulator in 3 training modules by users with different levels of experience in ophthalmology.

METHODS

We included 18 surgeons (6 residents with no cataract experience, 6 residents with little experience (1 to 10 cases) and 6 experienced cataract surgeons (over 500 cases). Three modules were selected (capsulorhexis, phacoemulsification-cracking and irrigation and aspiration). All subjects completed 12 levels of increasing difficulty twice, and the results of the second trial were analyzed according to the surgeon's experience.

RESULTS

For the capsulorhexis module, experienced surgeons achieved higher total scores than the other 2 groups in exercise 1 (P=0.0102). For the phaco-cracking module, experienced surgeons achieved higher total scores in exercise 8 (P=0.0495) and a tendency toward significance in exercises 3 (P=0.0934) and 5 (P=0.0938). Participants with greater experience had lower total task time in exercises 1 (P=0.0444), 4 (P=0.06) and 5 (P=0.0189).

CONCLUSION

Experienced surgeons outperformed residents with regard to overall score in 4 exercises of the capsulorhexis and phaco-cracking modules. Our results confirm previously demonstrated construct validity for these modules on the EyeSi simulator. These findings will help in the development of relevant training programs that could potentially be applied to the standard ophthalmological curriculum.