A new technology is helping ophthalmology students to practice various eye surgery techniques without going to a wet lab or making use of porcine eyes. The Eyesi simulator allows ophthalmology students to fine tune surgical skills before they go out and face real-life scenarios in the operating room.

Eyesi recreates cases of cataract, retinal and intraocular surgery even before students start handling real patients.

"Eyesi simulates the look and feel of eye surgery for our residents and gives them a unique opportunity to fine-tune their skills before they experience the real thing," said Chris Hanson, an ophthalmologist from the Alberta Health Services and director of the residency program of ophthalmology at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary.

The $150,000 simulator was first used in Calgary in December 2015, training 10 residents.

The device uses a mannequin, which faces the student; an eyeball of the same size as a real person's; and a microscope to see and manipulate the internal portion of the eye. The image is projected on a larger monitor.

Eight holes in the eyeball allow tiny instruments to go inside.

Foot pedals are also used to control the device, another feature present in actual eye surgeries.

Different training modules on how to conduct surgery on the front and back of the eye are also included in the device.

"Eye surgery is extremely specialized and every fraction of a millimeter of movement counts," said Dr. Vikram Lekhi, an ophthalmologist.

By using Eyesi, the stress levels of students are reduced. Evaluation of the student's work is easily provided since the doctors can already observe their progress without the use of live patients.

"Training our surgeons in a life-like environment translates into the best possible care for patients," Hanson said.

Before Eyesi was invented, ophthalmology students used the eyes of human donors and animals, such as pigs, for them to study and conduct eye surgeries.

A fundraising event called "Eyeball" will be held in Winsport, Calgary on April 23 to provide the Rockyview General Hospital and the Alberta Children's Hospital with more surgical and training equipment.

Photo: Army Medicine | Flickr