For the past 6 years, ophthalmologists have been able to log on to Eyetube as a trusted source for ophthalmic videos. This website, produced by Bryn Mawr Communications, the same company that publishes CRST Europe, promotes ophthalmic education worldwide through its online library of thousands of videos. The synergy between CRST Europe and Eyetube is undeniable; watching a video that directly correlates with the article you just read is not only worthwhile but also highly educational. In short, pairing CRST Europe's content with the videos on Eyetube helps us to further enhance our surgical skill set. Equally important, sharing our experiences with other surgeons in the form of printed articles and online videos promotes peer education.
For these reasons, CRST Europe is celebrating the 6th anniversary of Eyetube, and we invited our editorial board members to nominate their favorite videos. Their responses show how important this video library and TV channel is to our community. In addition to the video that I selected as one of my favorites, Michael Amon, MD; Allon Barsam, MD, MA, FRCOphth; Arthur B. Cummings, MB ChB, FCS(SA), MMed(Ophth), FRCS(Edin); Uday Devgan, MD; Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD; A. John Kanellopoulos, MD; Boris Malyugin, MD, PhD; and Khiun F. Tjia, MD, selected and explained why a specific video stands out as extraordinary to them. Each video that was nominated has one important characteristic in common: It is extremely educational.
As a second component of the cover focus, CRST Europe invited the producers of each video to share their thoughts and to update us on any changes they have made to their surgical technique since the video was posted on Eyetube. Among those who offer their comments, Garry P. Condon, MD, shares the recent improvements to his modification of the Siepser sliding knot technique and Arun C. Gulani, MD, describes his iceberg technique for the removal of pterygium or pinguecula. What is advantageous about Dr. Gulani's technique is that it maintains or improves the integrity of the underlying ocular tissue. The recurrence rate, he shares, is less than 0.5%, compared with prevalence rates of 5% to 38% with other excision techniques.1
The glued IOL technique was first described in 2007.2 I selected a video by Soosan Jacob, MS, FRCS, DNB, that shows a live surgery procedure of this technique. In her article update, Dr. Jacob describes use of the glued IOL in combination with two new techniques that she calls endoilluminator-assisted Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty and pre-Descemet endothelial keratoplasty and in combination with glaucoma surgery.
Another nominated video features essential surgical techniques for vitrectomy. Louis D. “Skip” Nichamin, MD, advocates the use of a pars plana approach in the management of a broken posterior capsule and describes its advantages. In his article, Dr. Nichamin explains how he managed a standard cataract surgery case that became complicated within the first few phaco chops.
Another video that demonstrates how to handle complicated cataract surgery is by Robert J. Weinstock, MD. In his video, surgery in a dense fibrotic capsule was further complicated by posterior capsular rupture and vitreous loss. Dr. Weinstock skillfully shows how to best manage this complication.
In addition to the aforementioned articles, my co-chief medical editor, Sheraz M. Daya, MD, FACP, FACS, FRCS(Ed), FRCOphth, highlights the advantages of Eyetube from the perspective of an ophthalmic educator. Not only does he express the value in evaluating surgical videos but he also emphasizes how Eyetube is an excellent resource for learning surgical pearls from our peers. Dr. Daya suggests that we all consider the plethora of viewpoints that the videos on Eyetube showcase and question our own surgical techniques.
I thank and congratulate Bryn Mawr Communications for having the courage to start Eyetube 6 years ago and for making it the success it is today. Their continuous efforts to improve the website and the quality of the video contributions does not go unnoticed.
Ut vivat, floreat, et crescat Eyetube (May Eyetube live, grow, and flourish).
Erik L. Mertens, MD, FEBOphth
Chief Medical Editor
- Krachmer JH, Palay DA. Cornea Atlas, 2nd ed. Philadelphia; Elsevier Mosby; 2005:1481.
- Agarwal A, Kumar DA, Jacob S, et al. Fibrin glue-assisted sutureless posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation in eyes with deficient posterior capsules. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2008;34(9):1433-1438.
