Early Performance on an Eye Surgery Simulator Predicts Subsequent Resident Surgical Performance

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Education
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Assessing surgical competency early in residency is crucial for effective training.
• Ophthalmology residency programs seek reliable methods to evaluate resident performance.
• Virtual reality simulators offer a controlled environment for surgical skill acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the correlation between early performance on the Eyesi surgical simulator and subsequent cataract surgery outcomes.
• To determine if simulator metrics can predict a resident's surgical proficiency.
• To identify potential for early intervention for residents struggling with cataract surgery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 30 ophthalmology residents' data from a single large program.
• Collected Eyesi simulator module scores (antitremor, bimanual, capsulorhexis, forceps, navigation) from the first year.
• Correlated simulator scores with third-year surgical performance metrics (total cases, GRASIS scores).

Main Results:

• Significant positive correlations found between simulator scores (e.g., capsulorhexis, forceps, navigation) and total surgeries performed.
• Simulator performance, particularly forceps training, strongly correlated with Global Rating Assessment of Skills in Intraocular Surgery (GRASIS) scores.
• An inverse correlation was observed between high GRASIS scores and residents requiring additional training support.

Conclusions:

• Early module scores on the Eyesi eye surgery simulator may predict future operating room performance.
• Simulator performance can aid in the early identification of residents needing supplemental cataract surgery training.
• Virtual reality simulation shows promise as a tool for formative assessment in ophthalmology residency.