Simeon Harrow
Course Overview
The Introduction to Ophthalmic Surgery Course is designed and organised by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. The course is aimed at individuals considering application to ophthalmology specialty training. The aim of the course is to provide an opportunity to learn and practice the fundamental microsurgical skills of ophthalmic surgery such as
scleral and rectus muscle suturing, eyelid suturing, corneal suturing and corneal incision. Prior to attending the course, e-learning modules must be completed which introduce the different microsurgical instruments, suturing techniques and the use of the microscope (1).
My Experience
The one-day course involved a series of focused teaching sessions delivered by ophthalmologists, who firstly introduced each surgical skill with step-by-step demonstrations, followed by dedicated time to practice. The course was introduced by explaining the different surgical instruments and a demonstration of instrument handling and suturing. This was a great opportunity to learn and develop basic suturing skills and knot tying, with feedback from ophthalmologists.
The first session involved teaching on strabismus surgery, through a brief demonstration of scleral and rectus muscle suturing using an artificial eye model. This allowed me to appreciate the fine detail involved when repositioning and suturing the extraocular muscles.
The next two sessions involved learning how to use the microscope for eyelid suturing, corneal suturing and corneal incision using a porcine eye model. This had the benefit of closely simulating surgical techniques on a tissue consistency similar to the human eye. I really enjoyed using the microscope to observe the fine details of the eye, whilst practicing the intricate suturing techniques.
In addition, we were also provided with training for the EyeSi surgical simulator, which was very enjoyable and a pre-requisite for booking future training sessions on the simulator.
Key Learning Points
Overall, this course was invaluable in gaining insight into the core aspects of microsurgical skills in ophthalmic surgery. The structure of the course truly allowed for the development of practical skills, allowing attendees to practice their surgical skills under close senior supervision. The facilitators of the course were incredible teachers, who created a safe and encouraging learning environment providing tailored feedback and support with surgical technique.
I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in exploring ophthalmology. It’s a fantastic opportunity to develop new skills and put your fine motor abilities and binocular vision to the test.
References
- Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Introduction to Ophthalmic Surgery Course, www.rcophth.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Introduction-To-Ophthalmic-Surgery-Course.pdf