Assessment of Surgeon Gaze Characteristics During Pars Plana Vitrectomy and Membrane Peeling.

Purpose: To investigate differences in gaze behavior among vitreoretinal surgeons of varying experience levels during simulated pars plana vitrectomy with epiretinal membrane peeling using a 3-dimensional heads-up display (HUD) system with integrated eye-tracking.

Methods

Twenty-six ophthalmologists-postgraduate year 4 residents (n = 10), vitreoretinal fellows (n = 9), and attending surgeons (n = 7)-performed simulated vitrectomy on model eyes using a 3-dimensional HUD system with eye-tracking. Gaze metrics (fixations, saccades, field awareness, HUD focus, and tear angle) and surgical performance (International Council of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology Surgical Competency Assessment Rubric vitrectomy score) were evaluated. Statistical analysis included Pearson correlation, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and post hoc Tukey tests.

Results

Surgical performance increased with experience (postgraduate year 4: 26.6 ± 1.3; attending: 42.5 ± 1.6; P < .0001). Attendings demonstrated fewer fixations (3454.0 ± 548.0 vs postgraduate year 4: 6114.0 ± 1349.0; P < .0001), shorter fixation durations (0.21 ± 0.015 seconds vs 0.277 ± 0.034 seconds; P < .05), and smaller saccade lengths (0.168° ± 0.082° vs 0.325° ± 0.094°; P < .01). They also showed greater HUD utilization (76.3% ± 7.3% vs postgraduate year 4: 45.0% ± 8.9%; P < .01), broader visual field awareness (51.3% ± 9.7% vs 17.3% ± 5.7%; P < .001), and more controlled membrane peel angles (7.1° ± 2.6° vs postgraduate year 4: 89.5° ± 22.6°). Novices primarily focused on instrument tips, whereas experts exhibited feed-forward gaze strategies with anchored fixation and situational awareness.

Conclusions

Expert vitreoretinal surgeons demonstrate distinct visual strategies characterized by efficient gaze behavior, broad field awareness, and HUD-focused attention. These gaze patterns correlate with surgical proficiency and may serve as benchmarks for training. Eye-tracking integrated with HUD systems may enhance surgical education by allowing trainees to model expert gaze behavior and improve operative performance.