title: An evaluation of stereoacuity (3D vision) in practising surgeons across a range of surgical specialities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Judging depth is important in surgery. Although there are several cues that permit depth perception, stereoacuity has been singled out as a possible predictor of surgical ability. However, it is not clear whether high-grade stereoacuity is necessary for a career in surgery. To help answer this, we aimed to evaluate stereoacuities in practising surgeons across a range of surgical specialities.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recorded stereoacuity values on 66 surgeons working at a London teaching hospital using three standard stereotests: Titmus, TNO and Frisby. There were 36 Trainees and 30 Consultants, covering 12 surgical specialities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median stereoacuities (with range) for the whole group were: 40 s arc on Titmus (40-800), 30 s arc on TNO (15-480) and 20 s arc on Frisby (20-600). Four surgeons had no recordable stereoacuity on TNO, and one was also unrecordable on Titmus. Three of these four were Consultants. Depending on the test used, high-grade stereopsis was found in 74%-83% of surgeons while reduced stereopsis was found in 2%-14% of surgeons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While we found that most surgeons in current NHS practice have high-grade stereoacuity, there are also surgeons with reduced stereopsis and some with no stereopsis. The findings do not therefore support the assertion that high-grade stereopsis is a universal requirement for a career in surgery. It would be difficult to justify setting a stereoacuity criterion for entrance into a surgical training programme.
authors.affiliation: Moorfields Eye Clinic, St George's Hospital, 162 City Road, London EC1V 2PD, UK.
authors.forename: Mairiosa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biddle
authors.affiliation: Moorfields Eye Clinic, St George's Hospital, 162 City Road, London EC1V 2PD, UK.
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamid
authors.affiliation: Moorfields Eye Clinic, St George's Hospital, 162 City Road, London EC1V 2PD, UK. Electronic address: Nadeem.Ali@moorfields.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Nadeem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001076:Aptitude; D001077:Aptitude Tests; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003867:Depth Perception; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008875:Middle Aged; D013043:Specialties, Surgical; D066231:Surgeons / Q000523:psychology*; D014787:Vision Tests; D014792:Visual Acuity
keywords: 3D; Stereoacuity; Stereopsis; Surgeon; Surgery; Training