Resident Perspectives on COVID-19: Three Takeaways

[...]we took time to reflect on how our physical interactions with patients, as ophthalmologists, would be changed. Residents earlier in training used simulation eyes to cement the motions of cataract surgery and corneal wound structuring, in addition to honing suture technique with synthetic skin models. In 1 study, residents who had previously used a surgical simulator demonstrated shorter phacoemulsification times and used less phacoemulsification power.1 In addition, residents with simulation exposure are reported to have significantly lower complication rates.2 Training senior residents may also have a residual effect on junior trainees: in a study on internal medicine residents performing central venous catheter insertion, increased resident passing rates on a simulated curriculum was thought to be associated with higher rates of senior resident simulator training completion.3 Although our surgical experience during the coronavirus pandemic was limited, our quick transition to a simulation curriculum allowed us to maintain progress in surgical training and to continue resident-faculty interaction.