Behind The Scenes of Surgery. A Walk in Our Surgeons’ shoes

3 images combined into one showing surgery in Auckland Eye hospital

Auckland Eye hosted an extraordinary Continued Medical Education (CME) day ON 6 May, titled “Walk in Our Surgeons’ Shoes (Socks)”. This hands-on experience, with generous support from Johnson & Johnson, offered staff a rare opportunity to step into the shoes of our surgeons, literally and figuratively, and gain deeper insight into the complexities of cataract surgery.

The day began with an engaging presentation by Phillip Lu, title, from Johnson & Johnson, who explained the intricacies of phacoemulsification and walked us through the operation of the phaco machine at each stage of cataract surgery. This laid a solid foundation for what was to come.

Following the presentation, staff rotated through three interactive learning stations:

Lens Loading Station: hands-on practice with intraocular lens (IOL) loading techniques.
Veritas Station: an introduction to the latest Veritas phaco machine, set to be trialled soon.
Surgeon Simulation Station: a unique opportunity to simulate a lens extraction procedure on artificial eyes under the guidance of our experienced surgeons.

A heartfelt thank you to Dr Sid Ogra, Dr Riyaz Bhikoo, and Dr Dean Corbett for their time and mentorship throughout the wet lab simulations. Their expertise elevated the experience for everyone involved.

CME sessions like this foster understanding, collaboration, and clinical confidence across our multidisciplinary team. We’re incredibly grateful to Johnson & Johnson, our surgeons and staff who made the day possible.

We look forward to more immersive learning experiences like this in the future, because when we grow together, our patients benefit most.

The impact of the day was reflected in the enthusiastic feedback we received:

“This was a fantastic experience—I really appreciate you both taking the time to take me through the process. It was also an excellent demonstration of your professional skills and experience.” – Gordon Armstrong, CEO

Gordon Armstrong attending the workshop at Auckland Eye

“It was amazing to experience phacoemulsification from a doctor’s perspective.” – Karlo De Castro, Surgical Support Team Lead

“One of the most valuable CME experiences I've had to date. The hands-on aspect—especially the opportunity to simulate cataract surgery and practice lens loading—really elevated the learning and made it far more impactful. The supportive environment made it easy to engage and learn effectively.” – Nikki McDonald, IPC Nurse

“The wet lab session was truly eye-opening for me! As a Theatre Nurse, I assist with cataract surgeries daily, but this experience allowed me to see things from a heartfelt perspective. I found it incredibly rewarding to learn about the intricacies of cataract surgery. I truly enjoyed this opportunity to expand my perspective and connect with the complexities of the procedure on a deeper emotional level.” – Stephanie Tea, Theatre Nurse