Resident doctors in ophthalmology, i.e. those undergoing postgraduate medical training with a view to becoming specialists in ophthalmology, can now count on a surgical simulation laboratory inaugurated this Monday (03/03) at the Maputo Central Hospital (HCM).

This is a well-equipped facility where future ophthalmologists will learn how to perform various surgeries in the ophthalmology forum, according to Mariamo Abdala Mbofana, Director of the Ophthalmology Department at this hospital.

"This is a clinical practice laboratory, where residents will learn how to perform various types of surgery, be it cataracts, glaucoma, eyelid surgery, surgery on the appendages of the eyeball and all kinds of surgical procedures on the visual apparatus. He began by saying

During learning and clinical experiments, animal eyes will be used as guinea pigs to refine techniques, increase precision and reduce the likelihood of errors.

"Any type of surgery that is performed on a living person requires a test in the laboratory, using an artificial eye or even an animal, which could be a pig or a goat, until the techniques are properly perfected and then they can be applied to living people. This is ideal and is done in many medical schools around the world". He added

This is the first time that a public hospital in the country has opened a laboratory with the skills to carry out the so-called "Wet Labs" (when a live eye is used) and "Dry Lab" (when an artificial eye is used) surgeries. These techniques are used to train health professionals using a simulator, which are fundamental for perfecting technical skills.

Before this laboratory existed, residents were trained using blind eyes, under the close supervision of their teachers, or using cadavers.

Valued at around sixteen thousand US dollars, the enterprise is equipped with three microscopes, two of which are table-top and one classic, both with modern technology, financed by the TA Foundation in collaboration with the College of Ophthalmology. (Information Note: HCM-DCI)