rss
Br J Ophthalmol 2002;86:1222-1224 doi:10.1136/bjo.86.11.1222
  • Scientific correspondence

Visual results and complications of temporal incision phacoemulsification performed with the non-dominant left hand by junior ophthalmologists

  1. T Kageyama,
  2. S Yaguchi,
  3. Y Metori,
  4. M Chida,
  5. K Koizumi,
  6. T Onishi,
  7. M Ayaki
  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Showa University School of Medicine, Fujigaoka Hospital, 1-30 Fujigaoka, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, 227-8501, Japan
  1. Correspondence to: Dr Kageyama
  • Accepted 25 May 2002

Abstract

Aims: To assess the results of temporal incision phacoemulsification and aspiration performed with dominant and non-dominant hand of ophthalmology trainees.

Methods: Retrospective analysis were made of 203 surgeries with dominant hand and 207 with non-dominant by five trainees at two institutions. Trainees sat at the patient’s head, manipulating instruments with the dominant right hand for the right eye, and the non-dominant left hand for the left eye.

Results: Vitreous loss occurred in 12 (5.9%) of 203 dominant operated eyes and seven (3.4%) of 207 non-dominant operated eyes. The rate of endothelial cell loss was 6.1% (9.8%) in dominant and 7.4% (12.4%) in non-dominant. Mean ultrasound time were 1.81 (0.70) minutes in dominant and 1.78 (0.78) minutes in non-dominant. One trainee showed statistically significant excesses in incidence of vitreous loss in dominant operated eyes (8.7%, p=0.0270), and one showed statistically significant prolongation of the operation in nondominant operated eyes (26.3 minutes, p=0.0315). In all other trainees, all parameters had no difference in both sides.

Conclusions: Ophthalmology trainees could successfully learn the technique with both hands. The authors consider that the skill of the non-dominant hand may be knowledge based and that surgeons avoid mistakes by mental efforts.

Footnotes

    Responses to this article

    • Temporal incision in all eyes using dominant hand
      • Venkatesh Rengaraj MD,
      • Thiruvengadakrishnan K MD, Muralikrishnan R MSc
      Br J Ophthalmol published online September 13, 2009

    This Article

    1. Abstract
    2. Full text
    3. PDF

    Register for free content

    The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

    Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.