title: Virtual vitreoretinal surgery: validation of a training programme.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the validity of the eyesi surgical simulator as an assessment tool in a virtual reality vitreoretinal training programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  In collaboration with an experienced vitreoretinal surgeon, a virtual vitreoretinal training programme was composed on the eyesi surgical simulator, software version 2.9.2 (VRmagic GmbH, Manheim, Germany). It was completed twice by three groups: 20 medical students, ten residents of ophthalmology and five trained vitreoretinal surgeons. The programme contained six training modules: navigation level 2 (Nav2), forceps training level 5 (ForT5), bimanual training level 3 (BimT3), laser coagulation level 3 (LasC3), posterior hyaloid level 3 (PostH3) and internal limiting membrane peeling level 3 (ILMP3). The scores in each module were assessed from two to five different factors (tissue treatment, efficiency, target achievement, instrument handling and microscope handling), and it was possible to achieve 100 points in each module.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the final training session, the highest overall median score was found for the vitreoretinal surgeons (vitreoretinal surgeons: 434 points, residents: 394.5 points, medical students: 272.5 points, p < 0.01). This was also found in four of the six modules. These were Nav2 (p = 0.03), BimT3 (p < 0.01), PostH3 (p < 0.01) and ILMP3 (p < 0.01). On the other hand, the three groups did not differ regarding ForT5 (p = 0.16) or LasC3 (p = 0.75).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We developed a training programme with validity for the eyesi surgical simulator as an assessment tool for overall score and for four of six vitreoretinal modules. These findings could potentially make the programme a useful tool in the training of future vitreoretinal surgeons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Odense University Hospital, Odense C, Denmark.|Research Unit of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anna Stage
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Vergmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Odense University Hospital, Odense C, Denmark.|Research Unit of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anders Højslet
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Vestergaard
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Odense University Hospital, Odense C, Denmark.|Research Unit of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grauslund
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000193:education*; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D057586:Vitreoretinal Surgery / Q000193:education*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: 
  eyesi
  ; surgical simulator; validity; virtual vitreoretinal surgery