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This global survey investigated the use of virtual reality simulation (VRS) in ophthalmological surgery education. Questionnaires were distributed to authors of publications and directors of centers using VRS for surgical education in ophthalmology, then forwarded to residents and fellows of their team for completion. Out of 1845 questionnaires sent across 36 countries, 170 responses from 26 countries were analyzed, primarily from residents and fellows (75%). Mean access duration to VRS was 3.6 years, often at University Hospitals (43.5%). Notably, 12% of respondents traveled an average of 550 km to access VRS. The EyeSi VR Magic was the most frequently reported simulator (80%, mainly in Europe/North America), followed by HelpMeSee (48%, primarily in Europe/India/Madagascar). In 25 training centers across 12 countries, VRS was a mandatory prerequisite for patient access, functioning as a “surgical license”. A larger number of training centers (49 from 19 countries) favored such mandatory training. Junior surgeons perceived a greater impact of VRS on their surgical practice compared to senior surgeons (p = 0.032). The study concludes that while VRS holds a significant role in postgraduate ophthalmic surgical training, its access is unequal worldwide. Broader implementation and standardized practices could improve and maintain high educational standards in this field.
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1 Department of Ophthalmology, New Civil Hospital, Strasbourg University Hospital, FMTS, BP426, 67091, Strasbourg Cedex, France (ROR: https://ror.org/04bckew43) (GRID: grid.412220.7) (ISNI: 0000 0001 2177 138X); Gepromed, The Medical Hub for Patient Safety, Strasbourg, France
2 Department of Ophthalmology, Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, University Hospital Brussels, Vrije University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium (ROR: https://ror.org/038f7y939) (GRID: grid.411326.3) (ISNI: 0000 0004 0626 3362)
3 Department of Cataract and IOL Services, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India (ROR: https://ror.org/05vg07g77) (GRID: grid.413854.f) (ISNI: 0000 0004 1767 7755)
4 Department of Ophthalmology, Cochin Hospital, Université Paris-Cité, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France (ROR: https://ror.org/00pg5jh14) (GRID: grid.50550.35) (ISNI: 0000 0001 2175 4109); Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Inserm, Unit 1138 Team 17, Paris, France (ROR: https://ror.org/02vjkv261) (GRID: grid.7429.8) (ISNI: 0000000121866389)
5 Department of Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital Bochum, Bochum, Germany
6 Department of Ophthalmology, West Lisbon Hospitals Center, Hospital Egas Moniz, Lisbon, Portugal (ROR: https://ror.org/012habm93) (GRID: grid.414462.1) (ISNI: 0000 0001 1009 677X)
7 Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany (ROR: https://ror.org/01jdpyv68) (GRID: grid.11749.3a) (ISNI: 0000 0001 2167 7588)
8 HMS, Jersey City, NJ, USA; Instituto Mexicano de Oftalmología, Santiago De Querétaro, Qro, Mexico (ROR: https://ror.org/00d619908) (GRID: grid.488993.7); Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA (ROR: https://ror.org/02dgjyy92) (GRID: grid.26790.3a) (ISNI: 0000 0004 1936 8606); Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA (ROR: https://ror.org/03r0ha626) (GRID: grid.223827.e) (ISNI: 0000 0001 2193 0096)
9 Instituto Mexicano de Oftalmología, Santiago De Querétaro, Qro, Mexico (ROR: https://ror.org/00d619908) (GRID: grid.488993.7)
10 School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA (ROR: https://ror.org/05wvpxv85) (GRID: grid.429997.8) (ISNI: 0000 0004 1936 7531)
11 Gepromed, The Medical Hub for Patient Safety, Strasbourg, France; Department of Vascular Surgery, Kidney Transplantation and Innovation, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France (ROR: https://ror.org/04bckew43) (GRID: grid.412220.7) (ISNI: 0000 0001 2177 138X)
12 HMS, Jersey City, NJ, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Ampefiloha University Hospital, Antananarivo, Madagascar
13 Department of Ophthalmology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada (ROR: https://ror.org/01pxwe438) (GRID: grid.14709.3b) (ISNI: 0000 0004 1936 8649)
14 Department of Ophthalmology, Bicêtre Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France (ROR: https://ror.org/00pg5jh14) (GRID: grid.50550.35) (ISNI: 0000 0001 2175 4109)
15 Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Golstrup, Denmark (ROR: https://ror.org/03mchdq19) (GRID: grid.475435.4); Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation (CAMES), Copenhagen, Denmark (ROR: https://ror.org/012rrxx37) (GRID: grid.489450.4); Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (ROR: https://ror.org/035b05819) (GRID: grid.5254.6) (ISNI: 0000 0001 0674 042X)