Strabismus surgery learning for Ophthalmology residents of university service

Purpose: To verify Ophthalmology resident's and supervisor's perceptions regarding learning and teaching strabismus surgery. Design: Descriptive Study. Methods: Subjects: 1st and 2nd year residents. Each resident studied the standard strabismus surgery technique on a CD-ROM, then performed a rabbit rectus muscle recession and a strabismus surgery on a patient. A structured questionnaire was handed to the residents, and the authors made observations including variables referring to the surgical technique applied, self-evaluation of this technique and if appropriate training was given. Results: Thirty-eight questionnaires were analysed. All 1st year residents (R1) had had some difficulty remembering the surgery sequence and 69.6% of 2nd year residents (R2). Concerning the surgical material handling, 93.3% of R1 and 52.2% of R2 had had any difficulty. The residents reported that during the surgery in humans, 50% remembered the experimental stage and that this training completely fulfilled their needs for 47% and partially for other 47%. Conclusion: Experimental surgery, more practice opportunities and resident's supervision may improve the teaching of strabismus surgery.