- 19 Sep, 2024
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How to Become a Vitreoretinal Specialist?
How to Become a Vitreoretinal Specialist?
Fellowship training in vitreoretinal surgery is a crucial step in becoming a vitreoretinal specialist.
Gaining some form of fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery is a first step to laying a foundation
for a career in vitreoretinal surgery and is strongly advised for improved patient
care and outcomes in vitreoretinal diseases.
At present, the duration of fellowships varies between 6-24 months with differing requirements
worldwide and no clear guidelines on what should be incorporated in a fellowship due to the diversity
of healthcare systems and vitreoretinal services provided in different countries.
How to Become a Vitreoretinal Specialist?
1- Skill Development
Extensive skill development is necessary to become an efficient vitreoretinal specialist surgeon.
This usually consists of 2 years of general ophthalmology practice, followed by a 2-year fellowship
in medical and surgical treatment of vitreoretinal disorders.
In MoAcademy, This program includes education in working with diagnostic tools specific
to the retina and vitreous, as well as complex vitreoretinal surgical techniques.
2- Gain Experience in Ophthalmology Practice
Exposure to a vibrant ophthalmic practice forms the cornerstone in the making of a competent
vitreoretinal specialist surgeon.
An understanding and appreciation of general ophthalmology is essential for the comprehensive
management of patients with vitreoretinal diseases.
This includes ophthalmic manifestations of systemic diseases, cataracts, glaucoma,
and ocular inflammations which may impact the management and visual outcomes
in patients with vitreoretinal diseases.
Experience gleaned from cataract and vitreoretinal surgery.
Another important aspect of gaining experience in ophthalmology is the exposure to a variety of patient demographics.
Ocular diseases may present in a different manner and severity in patients
from different age groups, genders, and ethnicities.
Understanding these differences is important for making accurate diagnoses and appropriate
management decisions for patients with vitreoretinal diseases, specifically about informed consent,
treatment modalities, expected visual outcomes, and addressing patient expectations.
3- Develop Surgical Skills
The foundation of a vitreoretinal surgical career lies in effective and safe surgical techniques
and the ability to impart these skills to successive generations of surgeons.
As vitreoretinal surgery is primarily a microsurgical discipline, acquiring refined surgical
skills is a priority during any training phase.
For the young ophthalmologist who is yet to enter vitreoretinal training,
vitreoretinal surgery procedure training in MoAcademy will provide the strongest
foundation for future surgical practice.
There are certain steps that a young ophthalmologist interested in vitreoretinal surgery can take to develop
surgical skills before entering practice.
These include sub-specialized vitreoretinal surgical fellowship training,
practicing modern techniques on human donor eyes and animal models,
assimilating a strong armamentarium of surgical instruments,
and approaching retinal surgical pathology in an anatomical and pathological context.
4- Stay Updated with Advancements in Vitreoretinal Surgery
Published scientific research in the form of medical journals and textbooks is an excellent reference
for learning new procedures and techniques.
Medical journals are beneficial to subscribe to, and certain journals are wholly dedicated to vitreoretinal disease.
Effective treatments for vitreoretinal diseases continue to evolve,
offering patients improved anatomical and visual outcomes.
Remaining current with medical and surgical advancements in the field is an essential
task for the vitreoretinal specialist.
5- Step-by-Step to Surgical Techniques
But, before the surgeon attempts to perform a procedure on a patient, the key prerequisite
is being skilled enough to perform the steps safely and efficiently.
This necessitates practice away from the operating room, usually on an eye model.
Unfortunately, this is an area that is not well covered in the literature and is currently
one of the most difficult aspects of learning a procedure for a beginner.
In vitreoretinal surgery procedure training, the Surgeon learns the step-by-step surgical techniques
in vitreoretinal surgery from the initial steps such as the site of entry, agent and instrument preparation,
and patient positioning, to the final steps such as anterior vitrectomy and wound closure.
6- Equipment and Setup
The Vitreoretinal Specialist needs to familiarize himself with the tools used in surgery
A variety of microsurgical instruments are utilized in vitreoretinal surgery.
They are available in both reusable and disposable forms and vary in size and function.
These instruments include forceps, scissors, picks, and a variety of different-shaped intraocular
instruments for peeling membranes and delaminating pathology from the retinal surface or optic nerve.
7- Practical Exercises and Simulations
The objective of the wet-lab training program is to provide a realistic scenario-based system
through which the trainee can learn and understand the process of fine microsurgical intervention inside the eye.
These advances in technology offer an environment to learn basic skills such as hand-eye coordination
and instrument handling, with a clear performance measure.
Mechanical models are being used for preparing the sclerotomy/cannula track and sub-retinal injections,
with a robotic arm system being designed for future simulations.
Custom-made eye models have been the most successful, as they offer the trainee the most realistic
scenario with immediate support for the skill being learned.
These range from simple models made from gelatin and agar to models with more complex anatomy
using biological eyes and a variety of pathologies.
A spectrum of vitreoretinal surgical skills from entry-level and advanced intermediate residents
will be exercised at all levels of complexity.
8- Assessment and Evaluation
Vitreoretinal surgery involves the use of fine instruments within the confines of a deep, dark, and narrow space.
It is unlike any other form of surgery and possesses a considerable learning curve.
We believe that a wet lab course.
At MoAcademy offers vitreoretinal surgeons the best environment to determine the safety
and efficacy of new surgical techniques and instruments.
With wet-lab training, complications such as iatrogenic retinal breaks and lens touch can be practiced
and managed until they no longer occur.
Ultimately, training in a wet lab environment will lead to improved patient care and outcomes in vitreoretinal surgery.