Sophocle: A retinal laser photocoagulation simulator overview

Abstract

Retinal laser photocoagulation has been used for a decade, but no real improvement in results has been observed. The simulator described in this paper, by separating actual practice from apprenticeship, allows one both to learn how to manipulate the equipment and to train oneself for making a diagnosis and operating. It has been designed as close as possible to the actual operation conditions and gives the opportunity to deal with a large library of current or rare cases. An actual slit-lamp is supplied with sensors measuring all the degrees of freedom of the system. The images are calculated by a PC computer and are displayed on a miniature screen placed inside the binocular. A user interface is provided through a Computer Assisted Training software, which allows users to manage the pigmentations and pathologies data base, to follow the students skill level and to prepare critical operations.