Virtual program teaches cataract surgery

BOSTON, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- A U.S. study evaluating a surgical virtual trainer says the program enhances cataract surgery teaching as compared with traditional methods.

The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Cataract Surgery Trainer, a virtual training tool, helps to train physicians to perform cataract surgery -- the most frequently performed surgery in the United States on people over 65 years old.

Researchers say the procedure is one of the most difficult surgeries to learn.

Dr. John Loewenstein, associate chief of ophthalmology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, developed the trainer as an interactive computer program to assist ophthalmology residents in learning skills required to perform cataract surgery.

The trainer allows residents to experience the decisions required and tasks involved in performing cataract surgery in a virtual environment. Specifically, the program allows the learner to click on actions involved in cataract surgery, view the animated actions on the computer screen and receive feedback as needed. That allows them to practice cognitive skills and view the consequences of their surgical decisions in a safe, computer-simulated environment.

Researchers said the prospective, multicenter, single-masked, controlled trial found learners using the virtual trainer program scored significantly higher on post-tests. In addition, the mean difference between pre-test and post-test scores for the trainer group was significantly better than in the group that did not use the virtual program.

The study appears in the journal Ophthalmology.