key: cord-0742638-tntpxlcp
authors: Ferrara, Mariantonia; Shah, Mohammed Tanvir; Levis, Hannah J.; Romano, Vito
title: Comment on: “Overcoming barriers in access to ophthalmic education with virtual learning”
date: 2021-10-05
journal: Eye (Lond)
DOI: 10.1038/s41433-021-01769-7
sha: 511775eff092f9fff087e27769563690893563c7
doc_id: 742638
cord_uid: tntpxlcp

nan

corneal suturing kit (Hoskins forceps, tying forceps, Vannas scissors, Barraquer suture holder, 10-0 Nylon suture packs) and an IPEVO VZ-R Dual-Mode 8MP document camera connected to a laptop computer (Fig. 1) . A 30-min pre-recorded lecture regarding eye anatomy, corneal suturing technique and including video tutorials on cardinal sutures for penetrating keratoplasty, is followed by a remote 30-min live session via Zoom in which the students can ask questions, make attempts at suturing with remote proctoring and the instructor can perform a demonstration of corneal suturing. The trainees can then access the prerecorded lecture through a link and practice independently. After 1 week, the trainees hold a 15-min test in which they perform a maximum of eight sutures on the models, with additional feedback. This performance is recorded to assess "respect for tissue", "time and motion", "instrument handling", and "suturing flow", whereas a photograph of the final result is analyzed with Fiji Image J to calculate mean spacing, width, radiality, and symmetry of sutures.

We propose this virtual dry lab model as a feasible teaching format for microsurgical skills. As the repeated pandemic has led to the interruption of surgical training with potential consequences on their performance [5] , a virtual simulation model might help trainees to retain surgical skills. 

Overcoming barriers in access to ophthalmic education with virtual learning

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmology medical student teaching: educational innovations, challenges, and future directions

Active e-learning in ophthalmology through live webinars: back to the theatre

A systematic review of simulation-based training tools for technical and non-technical skills in ophthalmology

Comment on: Impact of reduced elective ophthalmic surgical volume on U.S. hospitals during the early COVID pandemic

VR, HJL, and MF contributed to the conception of the work. MTS contributed to acquiring the data. MTS and MF contributed to writing the first draft. VR created Fig. 1 . VR and HJL provided feedback on the draft. All authors revised the final version. All authors read and approved the final paper. All authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

The authors declare no competing interests.

Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to Mariantonia Ferrara.Reprints and permission information is available at http://www.nature.com/ reprintsPublisher's note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.