Comparative study of the three-dimensional perception of videos recorded on a "Do it yourself" three-dimensional recording assembly versus the conventional recording system

Purpose: To develop an indigenous "Do it yourself" (DIY) three-dimensional (3D) ophthalmic surgery recording system and validate the perception of stereopsis using it. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of practicing ophthalmologists with post-postgraduation experience of at least 5 years for perception of stereopsis for three different surgeries was performed; cataract, retinal detachment, and intravitreal drug injection were recorded on DIY assembly, viewed on VRBOX and using laptop videos and pseudo 3 d videos as control. Results: The laptop videos and 3D VR Box videos received higher ratings for stereopsis than the pseudo 3D videos. The parameters that received significantly higher ratings on the 3D VR Box viewing were instrument's position relative to the ocular surface in cataract surgery, anterior chamber depth during capsular staining, ophthalmic visco-surgical device injection, capsulorhexis, phaco tunnel depth, movement of nuclear fragments in the anterior chamber, and intra-ocular lens tilt in the capsular bag during cataract surgery (P < 0.05). In scleral buckling surgery, the parameters that were significantly rated higher on VR Box were globe contour, separation of the scleral plane from muscle, and explant plane (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the depth of the needle in the vitreous cavity while administering intravitreal drug injection was also rated significantly higher on VR Box (P < 0.05). However, the ratings for the depth of corneal incision, depth of scleral incision, overall color, and overall quality were not different statistically when compared between laptop and VR Box viewing. Conclusion: DIY 3D recording assembly offers a superior means of appreciating depth at various stages of cataract surgery, scleral buckling, and intravitreal drug injection when compared to laptop viewing and can serve as an effective tool for skill transfer.