Name
Ophthalmology Microsurgery Lab: Exploring a Role in Medical Student Education
Date & Time
Sunday, June 7, 2026, 4:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Location Name
Hamilton
Speakers
Authors
Lewis Sanghyon Oh, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Sean Smith, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Andrew Zhang, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Lauren Kang, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Peter B. Veldman, The University of Chicago Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science
Asim V. Farooq, The University of Chicago Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science
Presentation Topic(s)
Instructional Methods
Description
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of an ophthalmology
microsurgery lab experience on interest, knowledge, and confidence in
pre-determined topics among medical students.
METHODS
We developed a pre- and post-activity survey for medical students
participating in an ophthalmology microsurgery lab (and pre-lab curriculum)
hosted by the medical school’s Ophthalmology Interest Group. The survey
involved questions about participant interest in a surgical subspecialty,
microsurgery, and ophthalmology, as well as knowledge and confidence in
certain ophthalmology microsurgical skills. The pre-lab curriculum included a
handout about steps for performing clear corneal incisions and corneal
suturing, with illustrations for each step and hyperlinks for further
reading. Pre- and post-survey results were analyzed using the Wilcoxon
signed-rank test to assess significant changes in survey responses.
RESULTS
Twenty-four medical students participated in the ophthalmology microsurgery
lab and completed the pre- and post-activity surveys. All participants
completed a 90-minute ophthalmology microsurgery lab, led by one
ophthalmology attending and one resident. Participants observed on a monitor
and then performed specific microsurgery steps on model eyes: paracentesis
wound creation, keratome wound creation, and corneal suturing. Two out of
four survey questions regarding interest in ophthalmology and surgical
subspecialties yielded a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05)
after the event. All five survey questions regarding knowledge or confidence
in ophthalmology microsurgical skills demonstrated a statistically
significant increase (p < 0.05) after the event.
CONCLUSION
The present study demonstrates that an ophthalmology microsurgery lab can
increase medical student interest in ophthalmology as well as the knowledge
and confidence in specific ophthalmology microsurgery skills. This is an
important finding, as most medical students have relatively limited exposure
to ophthalmology. This may be particularly important in understanding how to
attract medical students who are underrepresented in medicine to surgical
subspecialties.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of an ophthalmology
microsurgery lab experience on interest, knowledge, and confidence in
pre-determined topics among medical students.
METHODS
We developed a pre- and post-activity survey for medical students
participating in an ophthalmology microsurgery lab (and pre-lab curriculum)
hosted by the medical school’s Ophthalmology Interest Group. The survey
involved questions about participant interest in a surgical subspecialty,
microsurgery, and ophthalmology, as well as knowledge and confidence in
certain ophthalmology microsurgical skills. The pre-lab curriculum included a
handout about steps for performing clear corneal incisions and corneal
suturing, with illustrations for each step and hyperlinks for further
reading. Pre- and post-survey results were analyzed using the Wilcoxon
signed-rank test to assess significant changes in survey responses.
RESULTS
Twenty-four medical students participated in the ophthalmology microsurgery
lab and completed the pre- and post-activity surveys. All participants
completed a 90-minute ophthalmology microsurgery lab, led by one
ophthalmology attending and one resident. Participants observed on a monitor
and then performed specific microsurgery steps on model eyes: paracentesis
wound creation, keratome wound creation, and corneal suturing. Two out of
four survey questions regarding interest in ophthalmology and surgical
subspecialties yielded a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05)
after the event. All five survey questions regarding knowledge or confidence
in ophthalmology microsurgical skills demonstrated a statistically
significant increase (p < 0.05) after the event.
CONCLUSION
The present study demonstrates that an ophthalmology microsurgery lab can
increase medical student interest in ophthalmology as well as the knowledge
and confidence in specific ophthalmology microsurgery skills. This is an
important finding, as most medical students have relatively limited exposure
to ophthalmology. This may be particularly important in understanding how to
attract medical students who are underrepresented in medicine to surgical
subspecialties.
Presentation Tag(s)
Student Presentation