Review Article - Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology (2020) Volume 0, Issue 0

Artificial eye models: An opportunity to increase surgical training exposure in ophthalmology during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose: To review 3 recently published articles regarding the face and content validity of 3 artificial eye models used for practicing ab-interno goniotomy, ab-interno canaloplasty, and anterior vitrectomy (SimulEYE^® KDB/TrabEx, ABiC iTrack and A-Vit, InsEYEt, Westlake Village, CA)

Participants: A total of 71 surveys were completed by ophthalmologists following a surgical simulation session at the 2019 Canadian Ophthalmological Society annual meeting.

Methods: A 15-question survey to assess the face and content validity of the model was given immediately following the surgical simulation session. Responses to each survey question were recorded on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from (5) strongly agree to (1) strongly disagree.

Results: Respondents rated statements regarding the models with a median response ranging from 5 (Strongly agree) to 3 (Neither agree nor disagree). Mann-Whitney U nonparametric analysis revealed no significant difference in responses between instructor vs. non-instructor or between prior experience vs. no prior experience in each study. The models received the highest combined ratings for their usefulness in training residents, utility in novice skill acquisition prior to in vivo procedures and higher likelihood of success with the procedure than theory and observation alone. The lowest aggregated score for the models was for realism of the models compared to a human cadaveric eye.

Conclusion: Results from these studies suggest the SimulEYE KDB/TrabEx, AbiC iTrack and A-Vit models are a reasonably cost-effective solution for surgical simulation of ab-interno goniotomy, ab-interno canaloplasty, and anterior vitrectomy.

Author(s): Andrew Swift, Patrick Gooi

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