CATARACT ACADEMY PROGRAM

Become the surgeon you want to be

With this 9-week program, you will develop the skills to become a cataract surgeon and will open the doors to a more promising future.

CATARACT ACADEMY

PROGRAM

 

Become the surgeon you want to be

With this 9-week program, you will develop the skills to become a cataract surgeon and will open the doors to a more promising future.

You have invested a lot of time and effort into your career, years of studying, and working long and complicated hours.

Still, you keep struggling to make ends meet. You are feeling stuck. Like you had no options.

You are unable to offer your patients integral solutions.

You want to become a surgeon to make a real difference in other people’s lives, but there aren’t many options out there that suit your needs.

The courses all the prestigious universities offer are either too long or too expensive.

Besides, you can’t afford to spend two years with no income.

You owe it to yourself to live the life you have always dreamt.

What if you could become a surgeon without having to spend tons of time and money in the process?

With the Cataract Academy Program, you can do just that.

After you finish this program, you will be able to:

  • Offer your patients integral solutions

  • Make a real difference in their lives

  • Earn more money

  • Open doors to new possibilities

  • Gain peer recognition

Our students…

I must confess that the course has not been what I expected, it constantly exceeds my expectations and takes me out of my comfort zone, as each module develops topics that one does not expect to see in this type of course, such as the layout of the operating room, assessing and improving the patient’s experience in their surgical process, to things like ergonomics, mental and motor skills and decision-making as a cataract surgeon.

Dulce Itzel Colin Avila, MD, México

In the Cataract Academy Program, I found a completely new way to learn. It was faster, more efficient, and personalized for what I needed. I strongly recommend this course.

Mauro Panichelli, MD, Argentina

Change your life by changing the lives of others…

Who is teaching this Program?

Ivo Ferreira Ríos, MD

Ivo is one of the founders of Oftalmouniversity and Phacomentors and the mastermind behind the Cataract Academy Program.

He is an Ophthalmologist with an intense focus on cataract surgery training. In the past five years, he has trained hundreds of students, many of whom are now successful surgeons with their own practices, and works in several of the most prestigious hospitals in the world.

Trained in the UNAM University, Mexico in anterior segment surgery with a Masters Degree in Medical Education at Dundee University, Scotland.

He is also Medical Director of the Oftalmo University CDMX Campus, one of the most advanced virtual simulation centers in the world.

Ishtiaque Anwar, MD

Ophthalmologist with a major focus on cataract surgery. Trained in Iladevi Cataract & Research Center, India. Currently working in Bangladesh Eye Hospital & Institute as faculty and Phaco Development program trainer.

Ben LaHood, MD

Ophthalmologist with a focus on cataract surgery. Ben completed his fellowship in refractive surgery in Adelaide, Australia with a focus on premium IOLs and currently works as an ophthalmologist in Auckland, New Zealand. He is passionate about research and teaching cataract surgery.

Jonathan Lake, MD

Ophthalmologist with an intense focus on cataract surgery. Trained as a cataract and cornea surgeon in Santa Casa College of Medical Science, Sao Paulo, Jonathan is now head of the anterior segment department there. Post Doctorate at Federal University in Sao Paulo. Currently working as the CMO of Opty group in Brasilia.

Who is this Program for?

Residents

If you are looking to learn more efficiently, this program will save you time by presenting the information in the most systematic, practical way. You will have all the resources available that will work synergistically alongside your training program.

Ophthalmologists

After taking this program, you will have the confidence to perform cataract surgery and you will become the competent cataract surgeon you have been dreaming of becoming. You will be able to change the way you practice medicine by having a big impact on your patients.

Cataract Surgeons

If you already are a surgeon, this course will teach you about the newest techniques and latest technologies. It’s all about repeatability, complex cases, and better results.

Who is this Program NOT for?

People that don´t want to be challenged

Because this program will do just that, with cutting-edge learning methodologies and state-of-the-art technologies that will constantly exceed your expectations.

People who don´t want to be taken out of their comfort zone

Comfort zones are predictable. Unchallenging. Comforting. Being comfortable is nice, but it won’t take you to new places.

People who don´t want to take action

Yes, you are going to be able to do it from the comfort of your home, but it’s important that you do the work. To make sure you do, your mentor will be there to hold you accountable.

This Program will change the way you practice medicine forever!

Become the surgeon you want to be

WHAT YOU GET

9 MODULES

9 modules packed with always up-to-date information, the latest technologies, and the most disruptive methods that will help you develop the skills to become one of the most sought-after cataract surgeons in the globe.

MENTORSHIP

Dr. Ivo Ferreira will support you every step of the way. You will be able to have group Q&As and support calls with him every week for 10 weeks and get all your questions answered.

COMMUNITY

A community of like-minded professionals: Immediately after you sign up for the program, we will send you the link to our private Facebook Group, created especially for professionals like you. You will be able to discuss ideas, ask questions, post interesting information, and the best part? Your mentors will also be there answering questions on a daily basis!

LIFETIME ACCESS

When you purchase this course, you will get permanent access and with no additional costs to all future updates made to the content.

CERTIFICATE

A Program completion Certificate. Provided by Phacomentors inc, and Oftalmo University.

HANDS ON SIMULATION GRANTED ACCESS

After this first Program, you will be able to apply for the second part of our Program in the OU Campus which is a 7 to 14 full-day training program.

HOW WE TEACH: Our methodology

In our methodology, we artificially divided the skills you will learn into 3 pillars. We arrived at these 3 pillars after a lot of research and experience training surgeons around the world.

Psychomotor Skills

These are the fine motor skills that a microsurgeon needs to develop. Hand position, working through a small incision, and in a very small space are very complex skills to master.

Cognitive Skills

Decision making, problem solving and planning are one of the most important skills that a competent surgeon needs to master. After you dominate motor skills you need to dominate how to reason in the most efficient way during surgery.

Mental Skills

One of the most developed and perfected areas of training is the Phaco Mind Lab. In this pillar, we train you on how to reach a peak performance state during surgery. How to be focused, relaxed, and confident during every situation in surgery.

…about our methodology:

This Program will change the way you practice medicine forever!

Become the surgeon you want to be

Program Structure

The role of the online course is to build a robust mental preparation for the surgical training to follow.

The structure of each module is tailored to accomplish that:

  • There will be 9 separate online modules.

  • The student will receive each week online assignments which they must complete before the next module is available.

  • Each online module will have a short exam at the end to ensure content is reasonably understood. Until the exam is passed the next module will not be available.

  • Each module will be tailored to be short and have a decidedly high cadence for how key learning goals are conveyed.

  • Online modules will never tell a student what they have to do in cataract surgery for a specific step, but rather why they would do that specific step using defined techniques. This forces every student discovers they possess a more complete understanding of a concept related to phaco surgery.

  • Carefully selected or created animations, surgeon video talks, and simulation demonstrations will populate each online module to allow for active adult learning vs passive learning.

Topics covered

  • Introduction to Phaco principles
  • What is to be a surgeon?
  • The journey to becoming a cataract surgeon
  • Cognitive and Mental training for surgeons
  • The cataract surgery Patient
  • The Day of surgery
  • Cataract surgery preoperative assessment
  • The Cataract surgery team and workflows
  • The Cataract surgery Operating Room
  • Basic Phacodynamics
  • The cataract surgeon
  • Basic Phacoemulsification Step by step
  • Advanced  Phacoemulsification Step by step
  • Phacoemulsification Complex Cases management
  • Phacoemulsification Complication management
  • Premium Cataract surgery
  • Advanced Phacodynamics

Syllabus

SECTION 1: What is Phaco?

  • Surroundings
  • Coordination
  • Position
  • Use of the Microscope
  • Knowledge of the Instrument
  • Phacodynamics (The pillar of Phaco)
  • Definitions

SECTION 2: Prepare to change lives

  • No 1 surgery in the world (and will duplicate in 2050)
  • Surgery with the most impact on a person’s quality of life
  • Most important intervention in medicine to make a change in public health

SECTION 3: Phaco fundamentals

  • The most important concepts of Phaco

SECTION 4: The course (On-Line/Simulation/Surgery Course)

  • Characteristics of the course

SECTION 1:

  • Operating Room
  • Spaces optimization for workflow & safety.
  • Phaco Machine
  • Technology is the king so know the machine & how the Centurion phaco platform can aid you in having optimal surgical outcomes
  • Microscope
  • “You can’t do what you can’t see”
  • Alcon Ngenuity as a progressive new mode of visualization
  • Instruments
  • Sterilization methods.
  • Essentials: ”Every carpenter has a hammer & a saw in his toolbox”
  • Well trained Team
  • Anesthesia
  • Nurse
  • Consumables & their role in optimizing surgical outcomes
  • Viscoelastic
  • IOL
  • Phaco system Cassette

SECTION 2: Phaco as “your everything.”

  • “The blessed”. To be a skilled compassionate phaco surgeon is to unlock your true calling
  • The key role of Phaco in your practice (The 80% rule)
  • Phaco Economics & the correlation of practice prosperity to active surgical practice & commitment to surgical excellence

SECTION 1: Andragogy: Adult Learning

  • Competency-Based
  • Objective Driven
  • Consistent Evaluation

SECTION 2: Cognitive, Integrative, and Autonomous Stage 1.

  • Critical Thinking in Phaco
  • Whole-Part-Whole Learning Model

SECTION 3: 80% of Phaco it’s outside the OR

  • Hyperfocus, Exercise to concentrate on Surgery Coordination
  • Coordination exercises in phaco
  • Foot-Hand- Ear-Eye
  • Fine movements with your hands
  • Phacodynamics

  • Concentration capacity (Mindfulness) & Neurolinguistics Programing
  • Critical thinking and Problem Solving
  • Complication Mindset
  • Communication in the operating room

  • Patient Status (Diseases, Conditions)
  • Risk Evaluation
  • IOL Calculation
  • IOL Selection
  • Costs (Ideal vs. reality)
  • “How to sell” (Premium & toric lenses)

  • Assistants
  • Workflows and Leadership
  • Nurses
  • Technicians
  • Anesthesiologist

  • Phaco Fundamentals
  • “Equilibrium”. What goes out must equal what goes in!
  • Pumps.
  • Why own a Ferrari if you cannot drive a 5-speed car
  • The pedal.
  • Flowability/holdability. Know this & you are the master of your domain
  • Ultrasound. It’s more a jackhammer than a shovel.

7. Where are we going?

SECTION 1: Anesthesia

  • Types
  • Advantages in different cataract surgery scenarios
  • When topical is the wrong choice

SECTION 2: Visualization

  • Microscopes fundamentals for microsurgery
  • Microscope positioning relative to
  • Becoming panfocal to visualize from cornea to PC
  • Advantages of 3D imaging for cataract surgery

SECTION 3: Position of the patient and surgeon ergonomics

  • Principles of positioning
  • Protect yourself

INCISION

  • Types
  • Technique
  • Induce Astigmatism importance

PARACENTESIS

  • Types
  • Technique
  • Position

VISCOELASTIC INTRODUCTION

  • Types
  • Technique

CAPSULORHEXIS

  • Rhexis Fundamentals
  • Rhexis Deconstructed
  • Rhexis in 3 dimensions
  • Reassemble the Rhexis

HYDRODISSECTION NUCLEO FRACTIS

  • Different techniques
  • Importance of knowing different techniques

IRRIGATION ASPIRATION

  • Anatomy
  • Cortex behavior
  • Movements (hands and IA tip)
  • Parameters

IOL INSERTION

  • Wound interaction in which we need to be aware that the cartridge does not separate from the wound
  • The correct movement of the IOL in the AC and to direct it to the capsular bag

VISCOELASTIC ASPIRATION

  • Remove the viscoelastic completely from the AC
  • Remove viscoelastic from behind the IOL
  • Parameters

INCISION MANAGEMENT

  • Sutureless incision management
  • How to make a good suture for our incision

INTRAOPERATIVE MEDICATION IN PHACO

  • Inammation control medication
  • Antibiotics

  • The power of simulation.
  • How to learn faster with simulation.
  • The correct mindset to have during the simulation course.
  • What to expect in the simulation phase.

Program Structure

MULTIPLE VIDEOS

Exclusive multi-camera views. Short videos to optimize time and attention span.

CASE BASED LEARNING

Interactive cases and problem-solving. Situations to exercise critical thinking.

PRESENTATIONS & ANIMATIONS

Tailor-made Keynote and video presentations and animations to help in concept transfer.

QUIZZES

Embedded quizzes within each module to assess the progress. Scores and Reports automatically compiled by the education platform.

Students will have active participation in each stage of the course.

When you finish the online mentorship and pass the evaluation, you will receive your first OU certificate.

After the first Program, you will be able to apply for the second part of our Program in the OU Campus which is a 7 to 14 full-day training program.

Become the surgeon you want to be

By the end of this program, students will be able to:

  • Address preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management issues in cataract surgery.

  • Perform the technical skills of cataract surgery.

  • Recognize and understand complications of cataract surgery.

  • Understand advances in phacoemulsification technology and appropriate use of instrumentation, and lenses.

Why you should sign up for this Program now:

Time flexibility, personalized attention, and grant access to one of the best simulation campuses in the world.

Learn at you own pace

The online program modules are recorded, so you can do them at your own pace, when you want, where you want.

Personalized content

You are able to choose the areas you want to train yourself with a flexible schedule. You will have a voice during the entire learning process.

Structured Mentorship

…that will make your journey enjoyable and efficient.

Strategic and practical videos

All the lessons in this program are recorded and you’ll be able to watch them as many times as you need without missing any information.

Unlimited access

You will have unlimited access to all the content in this program at no additional cost. 

Course completion certificate

Once you complete all the modules and you pass the final test you will receive a program completion certificate: Provided by Oftalmo University, and Phacomentors Inc.

Andragogy training

We use modern methodologies based on evidence of how adults learn.

Our OU Campus Mexico City

Here you will learn with a Mentor by performing virtual simulations in the VRMagic Eyesi Simulator and with real phaco machines, microscopes, consumables, IOLs, and Bioniko Artificial eyes.

Get immediate access to the most advanced tools today’s market has to offer to become the best surgeon you can, from the comfort of your home.

If you really want to turn your life around and take a big step forward with your career, as well as having a greater impact on other people’s lives, this is the program for you.

If you want practical, experiential learning, in a realistic environment and with real cases, this is the program for you.

Join us to raise your surgical experience to the next level.