The perspective effect of wide-angle lenses in laparoscopes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of perspective distortion of wide-angle lenses in laparoscopes on hand-eye coordination during endoscopic manipulation.


METHODS
Sixteen subjects repeatedly performed a standardized positioning task in a pelvi-trainer under two conditions. The subjects had no prior experience with endoscopic manipulation. In one condition, a wide-angle lens with considerable perspective distortion was used; in the other, a telephoto lens without perspective distortion was used. Task time and number of errors were measured.


RESULTS
Task time and the number of errors did not significantly increase in the condition with a wide-angle lens.


CONCLUSIONS
The perspective effect did not influence task performance in endoscopic manipulation in this experiment. Subjects indicated that they even preferred the wide-angle lens because its extreme perspective improved their perception of depth.
Wentink
M
M
Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Design, Engineering, and Production, Man-Machine Systems, Delft, The Netherlands. m.wentink@wbmt.tudelt.nl
Fischer
H
H
Dankelman
J
J
Stassen
L P S
LP
Wieringa
P A
PA
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020706:Laparoscopes; D007909:Lenses; D008297:Male; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis