Abstract
Purpose :
The purpose of our analysis was to compare the fidelity of a commercially available simulated eye (SimulEYE™) to an ex-vivo unscalded porcine eye model that is utilized for research and training. Our protocol tasked subjects to aspirate a fixed volume of fluid via performance of an anterior chamber paracentesis (ACP) in various conditions utilizing simulated and ex-vivo models.
Methods :
Informed consent was obtained and participants (ophthalmology attendings and residents) were recorded performing an ACP in three simulated clinical settings: 1) the SimulEYE™ model mounted at a slit lamp, 2) ex-vivo porcine eyes mounted at a slit lamp and 3) ex-vivo porcine eyes mounted at a 45° angle (to simulate a recumbent patient in an examination chair). Participants performed the task with their dominant hand followed by a trial with their non-dominant hand in each of the three simulated clinical settings. Subjects were tasked to aspirate and expel 100uL of fluid into an Eppendorf tube in the two slit lamp settings. Objective measurements of task accuracy (aspirate volume in uL) and task duration (seconds) were performed, in addition to a survey designed to obtain subjective assessment in key domains such as task consistency and efficiency.
Results :
12 ophthalmologists participated in this study, with an average age of 44.4 ± 18.3 years. Their training level ranged from postgraduate-year-2 (PGY2) to senior ophthalmic subspecialist (>30 years of clinical practice). The range of experience with ACP ranged from 0 to 21+ procedures. There was no significant difference in average volume extraction (Δ0.005; p=0.13), average task accuracy (Δ0.4; p=0.86), or average task duration (Δ0.1; p=0.85) when comparing the SimulEYE™ model to the ex-vivo porcine eye. Spearman correlation showed statistically significant consistency in perceived task control (p=0.018) and efficiency (p=0.014) in the survey data between the SimulEYE™ and porcine eye across participants.
Conclusions :
Our study demonstrates that the SimulEYE™ model and ex-vivo porcine model were equivalent in objective and subjective fidelity when subjects were tasked to perform a fairly complex task in a simulated clinical environment. The use of simulated tissues for training and research applications offers significant benefit over ex-vivo models, and further research is warranted to validate simulated models for a broader scope of applications.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.