KITARO surgical training system, highly realistic simulator for cataract and other anterior segment surgeries

Junsuke Akura

Purpose: To introduce newly developed surgical simulator and its education system for practicing many kinds of anterior segment surgeries.

Method: KITARO surgical simulator is characterized by a high-quality artificial cataract lens (with anterior capsule, posterior capsule, cortex and nuclei varying in hardness), an artificial cornea (500 μm thickness at the center and 700μm thickness at the periphery), a sclerocorneal sheet (for self-sealing incision and glaucoma flap), and an oculomotor device.
KITARO education system consists of three steps: KITARO DryLab, KITARO WetLab, and KITARO Advanced Lab. The KITARO DryLab is a starter kit for beginners to practice capsulorhexis, nuclear dividing techniques, and wound construction at a desk without using phaco machine prior to wet lab. The KITARO WetLab is a realistic simulation kit which is a useful alternative to porcine eyes to practice all the steps of phaco surgery. The KITARO Advanced Lab is an improved kit for mid-level surgeons to practice many kinds of anterior segment surgeries such as IOL scleral fixation, phakic IOL implantation, corneal implantation, glaucoma surgery (trabeculotomy, viscocanalostomy etc), ECCE (standard, non-sutured), and other complicated cataract surgeries (small pupil, lens luxation).

Results: The use of KITARO system enables you to perform simulation of simple and complicated cataract surgeries, and other anterior segment surgeries very similarly on the human eye.

Conclusion: The KITARO system will make a great contribution to education in cataract, glaucoma, cornea and refractive surgeries.