Cataracts – cloudy spots that form on the lens of the human eye – are one of the most common causes of poor vision worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, although they are also one of the most easily treatable eye diseases. This disparity is largely due to the global shortage of eye doctors, which means that people, especially those in low- and middle-income countries, are often left with preventable vision problems.
To try and increase the number of ophthalmic surgeons in those regions, an immersive training simulator designed by Orbis and FundamentalVR provides support for medical students training in ophthalmic surgery, especially cataract.
To create a safe, yet realistic training environment, the simulator uses virtual reality and haptic feedback, allowing trainees to experience the sensation of human muscles, and uses cloud-based test data and accessible, low-cost gaming hardware. This program is already working in hospitals in Ethiopia, Bangladesh, India, China and Mongolia.