Following the success in Barcelona and Copenhagen, the ESCRS Simulation Training Lab will again give ophthalmologists in training or early career ophthalmologists a unique opportunity and experience to test and learn from the industry!
Participation to the training labs is subject to a reservation fee of €50 + applicable VAT.
Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 September 2026: Sessions between 09:15-17:15.
Monday 14 September 2026: Sessions between 09:15-13:00.
Participation is on a “first come-first served” basis.
The supporting partners are Haag-Streit, HelpMeSee and Thea.
See it. Try it. Experience it.
Step into the world of ophthalmology with an immersive, hands-on experience that brings cutting-edge technology and real clinical practice together.
Get closer to the procedure, explore the equipment, and experience what innovation in eye care really feels like!
Haag-Streit & Thea
The ESCRS Simulation Training Lab is ideally suited for ophthalmologists in training or early career ophthalmologists who aspire to become proficient at cataract surgery. This intensive course is 2.5 hrs in duration and split into 2 sections:
- Section #1 is 75 minutes in duration and begins with the Thea dry lab. During the Thea dry lab you will have mentors present to assist as you train with artificial eyes to learn essential skills such as suturing and Capsulorhexis.
- Section #2 is 75 minutes in duration and will be dedicated to intensive training using the Eyesi surgical simulator. With a dedicated mentor at each simulator trainees will undertake a carefully constructed course designed to help you acquire the skills to perform all the key intraocular steps of cataract surgery.
The ESCRS Simulation Training Lab is very popular and training slots are expected to fill quickly so register for your preferred time slot early.
HelpMeSee
The HelpMeSee Simulation-based Cataract Surgery Training Programme is an instructor-led, competency-based programme designed to build and strengthen the surgical skills needed to deliver safe, high-quality cataract care. Using the HelpMeSee Eye Surgery Simulator, participants develop skills through deliberate, repeatable practice in a realistic environment without risk to patients.
The HelpMeSee Eye Surgery Simulator combines high-fidelity virtual reality with advanced haptic technology to recreate the visual and tactile experience of cataract surgery. Cataract specialists can practice individual surgical steps and complete procedures while receiving objective performance data and individualised feedback from instructors. This proficiency-based approach helps participants identify areas for improvement, learn from errors, build surgical confidence, and demonstrate competency as they prepare to transition their skills to live surgery.
Structured curricula support both Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS) and phacoemulsification, including the recognition and management of selected surgical complications.
At the ESCRS 2026 Simulation Training Lab in London, participants will experience the HelpMeSee training methodology through 75-minute guided, hands-on sessions focused on key cataract surgical skills. The sessions will demonstrate how competency-based simulation can strengthen surgical readiness, support safer skills development, and help prepare cataract specialists for the transition from simulation to the operating room.
Choose Your 75-Minute Training Experience:
MSICS Simulation Experience
Develop foundational Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery skills, including:
- Cautery
- Paracentesis and viscoelastic injection
- Scleral groove creation
- Tunnel dissection
- Keratome entry
- Capsulorrhexis
- Additional MSICS techniques as time permits
Phaco Simulation Experience
Practice key Phacoemulsification surgical steps, including:
- Cautery
- Paracentesis and viscoelastic injection
- Trenching
- Nucleus division
- Phacoemulsification
- Cortex removal
- Intraocular lens (IOL) implantation
- Additional advanced techniques as time permits
Each session begins with a brief introduction to the simulator and the HelpMeSee competency-based training approach before moving into guided, hands-on practice.
Space is limited. Reserve your preferred training session early to experience one of the most advanced simulation-based cataract surgery training platforms available today.