Construct validity of a surgical simulator as a valid model for capsulorhexis training

PURPOSE To compare the performance on the EYESi surgical simulator capsulorhexis training module between medical students and residents and experienced cataract surgeons SETTING Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA DESIGN Comparative case series METHODS The study comprised medical students and residents at the University of Iowa and experienced cataract surgeons Neither group had experience with the simulator Each participant completed 4 trials on the capsulorhexis module RESULTS The 7 experienced surgeons achieved statistically significantly better total scores than the 16 medical students and residents on the easy level and the medium level of the capsulorhexis module (P = 004 and P = 000007, respectively) Experienced surgeons achieved significantly better scores in all parameters at the medium level, with better centering (P = 001), less corneal injury (P = 02), fewer spikes (P = 03), less time operating without a red reflex (P = 0005), better roundness of the capsulorhexis (P = 003), and less time completing tasks (P = 008) CONCLUSION The surgical simulator capsulorhexis module showed significant construct validity (P< 05)