Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery in residency training

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Education
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Cataract surgery is a common procedure with evolving techniques.
• Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) offers potential benefits but its integration into surgical training is under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current status of FLACS.
• To assess the incorporation of FLACS into resident surgical education.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature and institutional data on FLACS in residency programs.
• Analysis of safety profiles and refractive outcomes of FLACS performed by residents.

Main Results:

• No published data currently exists on FLACS within residency training programs.
• Initial institutional reports indicate successful and well-tolerated FLACS integration in resident education.
• FLACS demonstrated a comparable safety profile and refractive outcomes to conventional phacoemulsification during the initial learning curve.

Conclusions:

• Incorporating FLACS into residency education appears feasible and safe.
• Residents can achieve proficiency in both FLACS and conventional cataract surgery.
• Further research is warranted to fully establish the safety, outcomes, and role of resident-performed FLACS in surgical training.