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. 2024 Sep 1;72(9):1329-1335.
doi: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_2677_23. Epub 2024 Jul 11.

Assessing the surgical competency of novice surgeons by using a three-dimensional heads-up display microscope

Aadithreya Varman  1 , N V Arulmozhi Varman  2 , Dinesh Balakumar  3
Affiliations

Assessing the surgical competency of novice surgeons by using a three-dimensional heads-up display microscope

Aadithreya Varman et al. Indian J Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the surgical performance of novice surgeons operating on a three-dimensional (3D) heads-up display system compared to those using a traditional microscope (TM).

Methods: Prospective study design in a private practice setting. Twenty novice surgeons with similar experiences in cataract surgery were selected. Each surgeon performed 20 phacoemulsification cataract surgeries: 10 surgeries on the 3D heads-up display microscope, and 10 surgeries using a TM system. Data were collected from a total of 400 patients operated on by 20 surgeons. Outcome measures were recorded and graded according to the International Council of Ophthalmology's Ophthalmology Surgical Competency Assessment Rubric-Phacoemulsification system. The main outcome measure was mean surgical competency scores.

Results: Overall, 400 data points were equally distributed between TM (200) and 3D (200) surgeries. The mean surgical competency scores were 60.19 (11.41) for TM surgeries and 62.99 (11.11) for 3D surgeries. 3D surgeries had significantly higher surgical competency scores than TM surgeries ( P = 0.013). The mean surgical duration for TM and 3D surgeries was 35.98 (6.02) min and 34.31 (7.12) min, respectively. 3D surgeries took significantly less time than TM surgeries ( P = 0.012). The overall mean best corrected visual acuity in the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution units was 0.27 (0.42); in TM and 3D surgeries, it was 0.28 (0.43) units and 0.26 (0.41) units, respectively.

Conclusion: The 3D heads-up display system enhances stereopsis in cataract surgery, making it a valuable training tool for novice surgeons in phacoemulsification procedures.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Surgeon operating on the 3D system under the supervision of a guiding surgeon observing the surgery on the 3D monitor. 3D = three-dimensional
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of surgical competency scores according to TM and 3D surgeries. TM = traditional microscope; 3D = three-dimensional
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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