Safety of nondominant-hand ophthalmic surgery

Purpose: To establish the safety of nondominant-hand simulated intraocular surgery.

Setting: Horizon Suite Simulation Centre, South Devon Foundation NHS Trust, Devon, United Kingdom.

Design: Cohort study.

Methods: Physicians with no previous ophthalmic surgical experience completed an introductory program on the EyeSi ophthalmic surgical simulator to eliminate the learning curve. They then completed the validated level-4 forceps module 4 times with their dominant hand and then 4 times with their nondominant hand. Simulator total score, odometer movement, corneal injury, lens injury, and total time were recorded. Acuity (Snellen near) and stereoacuity (Frisby) were also recorded.

Results: All 30 physicians showed good acuity (6/6 and N6 or better) and stereopsis (mean 35 seconds of arc). The total score was lower (mean 60.8 versus 65.6; P=.019), operating times were longer (mean 71.6 versus 70.0; P=.026), and lens injury was greater (mean 0.93 versus 0.79, P=.021) when operating with the nondominant hand than with operating with the dominant hand. Those with higher scores with the dominant hand had higher scores with their nondominant hand.

Conclusions: Simulated nondominant-hand ophthalmic surgery resulted in less efficient, less safe, and slower surgery. This observation was more marked in those with less skill with their dominant hand. This has practical implications for trainee and trainer if 1 surgeon is left handed and 1 right handed. It also suggests that a higher degree of competence with the dominant hand is required before performing nondominant-hand surgery.

Financial disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.