- The future specialists are deepening their knowledge of the main ophthalmic sutures, which contributes to greater safety and quality in surgical practice
- The course participants are practising the different techniques at ISABIAL’s Simulation and Innovation Laboratory
Alicante (01.04.25). The Ophthalmology Department of Alicante’s Doctor Balmis University General Hospital and the Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL) have delivered the first basic course on ophthalmic sutures aimed at resident doctors. This innovative training programme, designed for future ophthalmology specialists, has brought together residents from several hospitals in the province, as well as from Madrid, Valencia, Castellón, Murcia, Cartagena, the Canary Islands, Valladolid, Salamanca, Asturias and Badajoz.
The Head of the Ophthalmology Department at Alicante’s Doctor Balmis University General Hospital, Juan José Pérez Santonja, explained that “the main objective we set for this innovative training was to deepen understanding of the fundamental principles of the main types of sutures used in ophthalmic surgical procedures, so that residents can approach the interventions they take part in during their residency with greater confidence”.
Dr. Juan José Pérez Santonja noted that “we are not aware of this type of specific training for residents being offered in other regions, and given the positive response it has received, our intention is to hold this course every two years”. The initial plan was to offer the course to residents from the province of Alicante and neighbouring areas, but its strong appeal meant that the information reached all parts of the country, and as a result, residents from across Spain were ultimately accepted.
The participants were able to deepen their knowledge of the different types of materials and needles used in ophthalmic sutures and later put this into practice at ISABIAL’s Alicante Simulation and Innovation Laboratory (SimIA). At SimIA, the students practised the most common knots and sutures. Specifically, they trained using an artificial skin model, the sclera of a pig’s eye, and finally the cornea of a pig’s eye.
The teaching team, which also included professionals from several healthcare centres in Alicante and Valencia, covered the different sutures used across various ophthalmology subspecialties. Finally, the students developed their skills in handling the main sutures under the microscope.
Cataract or corneal surgery, suturing techniques for anterior segment trauma, and sutures used in amniotic membrane transplantation were part of the session on suturing techniques across different areas of Ophthalmology. The programme also delved into the management of intraocular lenses fixed with sutures, iris reconstruction using sutures, and glaucoma surgery. In addition, suturing techniques in scleral and retinal surgery, strabismus surgery, and trauma of the lacrimal pathway were addressed, among others.
Dr. Juan José Pérez Santonja explained that “these are techniques used to close wounds in the eye, and they may be required in any part of it. They can involve the eyelid, the lacrimal pathway, the conjunctiva, the cornea, the sclera, and so on, and each of these tissues requires its own wound‑closure techniques to ensure proper sealing, as well as different types of knots available for closing the various wounds”.
The specialist also explained that “during residency, trainees delve into more complex techniques, but it is important for them to have a solid understanding of the fundamentals. There is little literature on this subject, and it is an area in which in‑depth training is essential. That is why we have been so committed to promoting this specialised training”.
50 years training residents
The Ophthalmology Department of Doctor Balmis Hospital has a long-standing track record of more than five decades in training residents in the specialty. It currently offers three accredited residency positions each year, reflecting the department’s strong teaching capacity.
It is also worth noting that, since 2008, the department has been a National Health System (CSUR) reference centre for the reconstruction of complex ocular surfaces and corneal transplantation. It is also the designated reference unit in the province of Alicante for congenital glaucoma.
