Virtual reality simulation in acquiring and differentiating basic ophthalmic microsurgical skills.
OBJECTIVE
A virtual reality (VR) surgical simulator (EyeSi ophthalmosurgical simulator: VRMagic, Mannheim, Germany) was evaluated as a part-task training platform for differentiating and developing basic ophthalmic microsurgical skills.


METHODS
Surgical novice performance (residents, interns, and nonmicrosurgical ophthalmic staff) was compared with surgical expert performance (practicing ophthalmic microsurgeons) on a basic navigational microdexterity module provided with the EyeSi simulator.


RESULTS
Expert surgeons showed a greater initial facility with all microsurgical tasks. With repeated practice, novice surgeons showed sequential improvement in all performance scores, approaching but not equaling expert performance.


CONCLUSIONS
VR simulator performance can be used as a gated, quantifiable performance goal to expert-level benchmarks. The EyeSi is a valid part-task training platform that may help develop novice surgeon dexterity to expert surgeon levels.
Solverson
Daniel J
DJ
Department of Ophthalmology, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA, USA. daniel.solverson@amedd.army.mil
Mazzoli
Robert A
RA
Raymond
William R
WR
Nelson
Mark L
ML
Hansen
Elizabeth A
EA
Torres
Mark F
MF
Bhandari
Anuja
A
Hartranft
Craig D
CD
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014584:User-Computer Interface