Intuition isn’t magic. In expert hands, it’s rapid, unconscious pattern recognition built from thousands of high-fidelity reps and tight feedback loops. Cognitive science calls this the union of fast “System 1” (intuitive) and slow “System 2” (analytical) thinking—where trustworthy intuition emerges only in environments with reliable patterns and consistent feedback. Cataract surgery is exactly such an environment when we train it correctly.  
For ophthalmic surgeons, “good gut” is simply well-calibrated recognition: the capsule reflection that signals a tear before it propagates, the fluidics sound that whispers impending surge, the phaco chatter that predicts lens density. What looks like instinct is actually compressed knowledge acting at speed.
How do we build it?
1. Simulation that mirrors reality. Virtual reality and metrics-driven curricula create the repeated, feedback-rich exposures intuition needs. Randomized trials show VR training transfers to the OR and reduces errors—proof that deliberate simulation turns patterns into reflexes.
2. Domain-specific platforms. In cataract surgery, Eyesi-based training correlates with real surgical performance and supports assessment—evidence that ophthalmology has the tools to grow intuition deliberately, not by chance.
3. Structured curricula. Sequenced tasks, objective benchmarks, and escalating complexity convert exposure into pattern libraries your brain can access automatically under stress. Reviews in ophthalmology confirm simulators can both train and assess phaco skills when embedded in a curriculum.
4. Mentorship. Expert coaches accelerate calibration: they label patterns, correct micro-errors in real time, and align System 1 with reality—so “feel” becomes reliable rather than lucky. This is exactly the condition under which intuition can be trusted: repeated experience in valid settings with immediate feedback.
Bottom line:
Intuition is skill, not sorcery. Build it the same way you build a perfect capsulorhexis—repetition, feedback, structure, and a mentor—until recognition fires before reflection.
Then, when it matters most, your “gut” is simply your best data, delivered at the speed of surgery.