Eyeworld

SPRING 2025 | EYEWORLD | 63 C Relevant disclosures Chung: None Krad: None Contact Chung: atchung5@uw.edu Haugsdal: jaclyn-haugsdal@ uiowa.edu Krad: omarkrad@gmail.com a greater risk of misinterpreting online content and potentially hindering one's growth." Dr. Krad said the journey to becoming a proficient surgeon involves building procedur- al familiarity, developing muscle memory, and gaining confidence. Each repetition, whether in a wet lab, online, or in a virtual environment, helps to reduce a trainee's anxiety and bolster their confidence, ultimately leading to improved performance under pressure, he said. "A com- prehensive training strategy that integrates these diverse learning modalities is essential for supporting the growth of future surgeons." Dr. Chung said that digital tools like this are more of a self-directed learning option. "Because it's self-directed, it can be like a video game," he said. "You learn on your own and learn how to play the system, but whether or not that system is creating good habits for sur- gery is another thing." He said that using these simulators also requires proper guidance when you're first learning to ensure you're using the right techniques. Speaking about the pros and cons of vir- tual simulators vs. traditional simulation, Dr. Haugsdal again mentioned that virtual simula- tors are easy to set up and clean and allow for repetition. They are also good at teaching hand positioning, moving in the eye, and maintaining centration. But they may come with a cost or space issue and could be missing a more realis- tic feel. A more traditional simulation approach (like with pig/cow eyes or with artificial eye models) could be more realistic and could use actual surgical equipment and instrumentation. But resources could be limited, making repeti- tion difficult, and the use of biological material requires proper handling and cleaning. Many surgical simulators focus on cataracts, but Dr. Chung added that some have vitreo- retinal modules on them, too. While these are unique ways to learn, Dr. Chung also believes in the combination of both virtual and traditional learning methods working together. "You need to be in front of patients and learning from the patients while doing your due diligence and practicing outside the OR," he said. "I think all of these simulation techniques out there are supplemental to the traditional method of operating with the attending." Anecdotally, Dr. Chung said he will often tell residents that the motion they use when performing the proce- dure is not terribly different from what he uses, but the difference he notices is the time taken in between each motion. Dr. Chung added that the wet lab is a passion of his, and he hopes there comes a time when wet lab curriculum is more standardized among programs. This will help define the progression and place of where these tools fit together with other training, he said. When commenting on whether virtual training options could grow to replace tra- ditional ophthalmic training, Dr. Krad again stressed that traditional in-person training is crucial for establishing a solid foundation in surgery. "Without this foundational training, the effectiveness of virtual learning is significantly diminished. Only with a strong foundation can one fully leverage the benefits of virtual training resources," he said. The rapid growth in virtual and augmented reality technologies holds immense potential for surgical training and collaboration, Dr. Krad A porcine eye prepped for cataract simulation Source: Anthony Chung, MD Simulated capsular tension hook placement on the Kitaro artificial eye Source: Anthony Chung, MD continued on page 65

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