Quality assessment of polymer materials for human model eye development.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomaterials Science
• Surgical Education

Background:

• Developing realistic anatomical models is crucial for surgical training.
• Existing training models often lack the fidelity to accurately simulate human tissue properties.
• Ophthalmic microsurgery requires precise simulation of scleral and extraocular muscle (EOM) characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare six polymer materials for their suitability in simulating human sclera and EOM.
• To identify the optimal material for creating ophthalmic surgery training models.

Main Methods:

• Six polymer materials, including five 3-D printed polymers and one silicone, were used to create model eyes.
• Ophthalmologists and residents assessed material realism through simulated suture passes.
• A survey and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to analyze subjective assessments and material rankings.

Main Results:

• Silicone material received statistically significant higher rankings for both sclera and EOM simulation compared to all 3-D printed polymers.
• Survey data confirmed that silicone effectively mimicked real human tissue properties.
• All p-values were less than 0.05, indicating statistical significance.

Conclusions:

• Silicone model eyes are superior to 3-D printed polymers for ophthalmic microsurgery training.
• Silicone models offer a cost-effective, accessible alternative to wet-laboratory training.
• These models facilitate independent practice of microsurgical techniques.