Establishment of a validated training programme on the Eyesi cataract simulator. A prospective randomized study

Purpose To establish and evaluate a systematic training programme to be included into the ophthalmologic resident curriculum. Methods Medical students (n = 20) within a year from graduation and with no previous ophthalmic experience were included in this prospective study and randomized into two groups. Group A (n = 10) completed the Eyesi cataract simulator training programme once a week for 4 weeks, while Group B (n = 10) completed it once a week at the first and the last week. Two cataract surgeons were used to determine two different levels of reference scores. Score per analysed module [two different levels of Capsulorhexis (A and B), Hydromaneuver, Phaco divide and conquer], Overall score, Total time, Cornea injury, Capsule rupture and Capsule damage by ultrasound were recorded. Results Group A outperformed Group B in several modules, reached a significant higher number of reference scores (p