The new wet lab is located in the Hull Institute of Learning and Simulation (HILS) on the second floor of the Eye Hospital building. It is a 5 minute walk from the train station; in fact you can see the Eye Hospital as your train pulls in!

N.B. It is not directly accessible from the Eye Department without staff-only internal access cards, so please enter through the left hand entrance of the building and take the stairs or lift to the second floor. 

The wet lab and HILS offer regular courses in ophthalmic surgery:

• Introductory skills for ST1s - A 2-day course that takes place in the first couple of weeks of the ST1 year, engaging trainees in learning basic slit lamp examination skills, applanation tonometry, foreign body removal, corneal scrape, fundoscopy - both slit lamp and indirect ophthalmoscopy using indentable training eyes and a video-linked indirect ophthalmoscope to permit supervision. There is supporting e-learning from e-Learning for Healthcare. 
  • N.B. YAG laser training now takes place on the same day as this course, to ensure ST1s are skilled prior to being required to perform YAG laser procedures in clinic. We use part-task simulation and real laser machines in clinic to teach safe capsulotomy and iridotomy techniques. 
• Basic phacoemulsification wet-lab (ST1s) - This is a course in early September for ST1s, covering basic cataract surgery techniques and practical understanding and use of real microscopes and phacoemulsification machines. We also try to cover basic microsurgical skills including suturing on simulation eyes. There is associated e-Learning for this course.  Trainees can thereafter make arrangements for individual self-directed learning in the wet-lab. 
• Advanced cataract surgery course (ST3+) - This course covers the management of complex cataract cases. We use novel simulations to teach the management of vitreous loss (anterior vitrectomy), small pupils, zonular instability, intumescent lenses and sulcus IOL insertion.
• Ocular trauma courses - Including lid/adnexal and globe trauma
• Laser course - This is a mandatory blended course supported by e-Learning for ST2 and 3 attendees, taught in groups of two. We use a combination of live laser with simulated targets (including bespoke materials) to teach retinopexy, pan-retinal photocoagulation and focal macular laser, as well an opportunity to practice on the only surviving PixEyes computer laser simulator in the UK.
• RCOphth Practical Ultrasound Course - An annual course using novel ultrasound phantoms and patient volunteers to cover basic principles of ultrasound as well as ocular ultrasound techniques.

We use simulated eyes from Phillips Studio, Kitaro, SimulEYE and PhakIs including cataract basic and advanced, vitreoretinal, strabismus and suturing models.

On the horizon: Vitrectomy, corneal surgery and glaucoma surgery courses coming soon.  

Access to the wet lab for local and regional trainees is by arrangement and must be initially supervised.  Local trainees can arrange unsupervised practice thereafter. 

Contact Mr James Innes for wetlab enquiries

For laser training course enquiries contact Mr Madhu (individual sessions can be arranged in special circumstances e.g. returning to training after absence, specific PDP goals)

The ophthalmology simulator suite is located on R floor of the Royal Hallamshire hospital. Access is granted by reception staff on R floor within office hours.  A log book of use is also kept in the simulator room. 

If further details are required, please contact Miss Zanna Currie

The suite includes:

EyeSi simulator - cataract and VR modules

Operating microscope

Kitaro kit

Skills board and surgical instruments