Wet laboratory training in ophthalmology as a tool for formative assessment

Surgical skills training and assessment have always remained a critical issue for both trainees and trainers. Ophthalmology being a microsurgical specialty, its training in the operating theater further faces a lot of challenges. Wet laboratory training and simulation training were, therefore, developed so that residents acquired certain basic skills in controlled laboratory settings before they could operate on patients and patient safety could thereby be ensured. Unfortunately, most literature focuses on the benefits such practice has on operating room performance; but not much attention has been paid to the use of such training for formative assessment, feedback, and its importance in effective learning. In this article, we highlight the challenges faced in surgical skill transfer and also give an insight into how wet or dry laboratory training can be of formative value in postgraduate training.