National Access to EyeSi Simulation: A Comparative Study Among U.S. Ophthalmology Residency Programs

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Education
• Surgical Simulation Technology

Background:

• Access to surgical simulation training is crucial for ophthalmology residents.
• Existing disparities in healthcare education resources may impact training quality and equity.
• EyeSi is a widely used surgical simulator in ophthalmology residency programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate regional disparities in access to EyeSi surgical simulation training among U.S. ophthalmology residency programs.
• To identify demographic factors associated with unequal access to this training technology.
• To understand the relationship between EyeSi access and residency program rankings.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of EyeSi sales data from 2021.
• Comparison of demographic metrics from U.S. Census Bureau and PolicyMap.
• Statistical analysis (Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher's exact test) of demographic data, VA affiliation, and Doximity rankings.

Main Results:

• The Western U.S. had significantly lower EyeSi simulator density compared to other regions.
• Northeastern U.S. counties with EyeSi access had lower populations of Black, Hispanic, and Native American residents.
• Programs with EyeSi access had higher Doximity rankings than those without.

Conclusions:

• Significant regional disparities in EyeSi simulation training access were identified in the U.S.
• Unequal access may disproportionately impact minority populations.
• EyeSi simulator access correlates with higher residency program rankings, irrespective of VA affiliation.