Study underscores need for standardized assessment in vitreoretinal fellowship training

Vitreoretinal fellowship program directors and recent graduates agree on key tools for assessing surgical competency, including direct observation, faculty discussions, and surgical outcomes. However, a study found differences in expectations for surgical case volume and the importance assigned to educational tools.

The web-based, cross-sectional descriptive study analyzed survey responses from 42 vitreoretinal fellowship program directors and 40 fellows.

All respondents agreed that direct observation of surgeries, faculty discussions on surgical performance, and outcomes of fellow-led cases are the most effective assessment methods. Fellows preferred to perform at least 300 vitrectomies during training, compared to program directors’ minimum expectation of 200. By graduation, both groups reported high confidence in managing complex procedures such as scleral buckling, proliferative vitreoretinopathy detachments, advanced diabetic retinal detachments, and giant retinal tears.

Autonomy was identified as a critical measure of surgical competence. Although fellows valued direct surgical experience highly, they rated other educational tools lower than program directors.

The findings emphasize the need for a standardized, systematic approach to assessing surgical skills in vitreoretinal fellowship programs.

Reference
Hassan M, Mishra K, Amarikwa L, et al. Assessing Surgical Competency Among Fellows in Vitreoretinal Surgery: A Survey of Fellowship Program Directors and Fellows. Ophthalmol Retina. 2025;S2468-6530(25)00008-9. doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2025.01.008. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39824306.