January 2023

OPHTHALMOLOGY

OPHTHALMOLOGY MICROSURGERY LABORATORY OPENS AT NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE

​Northwestern Medicine recently opened the Chez Ophthalmology Microsurgery Laboratory to provide hands-on surgical training for residents. Made possible by a generous gift from Ron and Athena Chez, this new laboratory will play a pivotal role in the surgical training curriculum. Ophthalmic microsurgery is unique in that it requires the use of both arms and both legs to control the surgical microscope and the phacoemulsification unit. Residents will learn to develop the necessary coordination to perform surgery in this fully equipped laboratory setting. Residents can also practice all aspects of cataract, glaucoma, oculoplastic, retina and strabismus surgery in a supportive environment.
 
The previous laboratory had a single microscope in a small space. Our new laboratory, on the 12th floor of the Tarry Research and Education Building on the downtown Northwestern University campus, has six workstations with state-of-the-art Haag-Streit operating microscopes and phacoemulsification units with fully functional foot pedals, each with an attached video monitor and an adjustable worktable. Each video monitor easily connects with an 80-inch monitor on the front wall to facilitate demonstrations and presentations.
 
Video images can be sent to or received from other locations. Residents can record their work for later review. Each workstation has a complete set of high-quality microsurgical instruments. The lab also has an Eyesi(TM) computer simulator (pictured above), which helps residents to master more challenging steps in cataract and retina surgery. The Eyesi program will guide residents through these steps until they develop proficiency, recording their progress along the way.

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