Introduction:

Laser capsulotomy is the only effective treatment for posterior capsule opacity, the commonest cause of decreased vision after cataract surgery. This procedure is simple, but not without complications. Until now, learning such procedure has been carried out directly on patients. Using simulators allows learning the technique without harming patients and without the professor’s obligatory presence.

Objective:

To validate the creation of an artificial eye model to be used as a simulator for the training of Ophthalmology residents in posterior capsulotomy with laser.

Methods:

Observational, descriptive and prospective study carried out, from February to March 2019, at Ramón Pando Ferrer Cuban Institute of Ophthalmology. A model was made that simulates the pseudophakic eye with posterior capsule opacity. Eight first-year Ophthalmology residents who had never performed a laser capsulotomy were selected. All the participants observed the performance of capsulotomy in real patients, as well as in the teaching model, while receiving the explanation regarding the technique. Subsequently, each student performed the procedure with the simulator on three occasions, and received an evaluation based on the completion of the capsulotomy and the impacts to the lens.

Results:

A simulation model was obtained for training posterior laser capsulotomy with the use of reusable materials. The average number of shots to complete the procedure was higher than necessary in real patients. However, the number of shots and laser impacts on the intraocular lens decreased with successive training sessions.

Conclusions:

The simulator created is cheap and easy to make. Its use is functional for the systematic training of posterior capsulotomy with neodymium. Yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) laser did not have any risks to the patient. It contributes to perfecting the focus and minimizing the impacts on the intraocular lens; therefore, it is shown as a useful didactic means for the training and evaluation of skills of Ophthalmology residents.

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