Cataract Academy Program

Your First Step Toward Becoming a Cataract Surgeon

Welcome to Cataract Academy Program the ultimate online course designed to empower ophthalmologists, eye surgeons, and medical professionals aspiring to excel in the intricate field of cataract surgery. Whether you are a beginner eager to learn the fundamentals, or an experienced surgeon aiming to refine your skills and stay updated with the latest advancements, this course has everything you need to succeed.

This is not just a course — it’s your personal guide and mentor on the journey to becoming a cataract surgeon. Designed to be your first and most important step, this program will walk with you through every critical moment, helping you develop the essential mindset, knowledge, and skills to start operating with confidence and purpose.

🔍 Objective:

• Define your long-term vision as a cataract surgeon and build a solid plan to achieve it.
• Learn the fundamental principles and step-by-step strategies to navigate your initial steps in the OR.
• Master the basics that will set you up for success throughout your entire surgical career.

This is where your journey begins — with an online course that behaves as a  mentor at your side to support you, challenge you, and guide you.

Key Topics You’ll Master:

• The mindset of a surgeon: how to think, prepare, and act like one
• Core surgical principles and workflows
• Microscope and phaco machine essentials
• Instrumentation mastery and ergonomics
• Psychomotor, cognitive, and mental preparation to excel under pressure
• Case selection: how to choose the right cases for your skill level
• Intro to phacodynamics: understanding the energy inside the eye

What Makes This Course Different:

• Feel like you’re learning with an online mentor, guiding you through every key milestone
• Next-gen learning: immersive videos with dynamic visual effects and real surgical footage
• Active learning: exercises and case simulations designed to help you “learn by doing”
• Tools to help you build your own surgical roadmap for your next steps after the course
• A modern, interactive, and human-centered experience focused on practical application

📚 Modules and Content:

• Module 1: Intro

 

• Module 2: Phaco Principals and why every surgeon should love phaco
  • SECTION 1: What is Phaco?
    • Surroundings
    • Coordination
    • Position
    • Use of the Microscope
    • Knowledge of the Instrument
    • Phacodynamics (The pillar of Phaco)
    • Definitions

• • SECTION 2: Prepare to change lives
    • No 1 surgery in the world (and will duplicate in 2050)
    • Surgery with the most impact on a person’s quality of life
    • Most important intervention in medicine to make a change in public health
  • SECTION 3: Phaco fundamentals
    • The most important concepts of Phaco
  •  SECTION 4: The course (On-Line/Simulation/Surgery Course)
    • Characteristics of the course

• Module 3: The Surroundings – What do I need to do Phaco in my practice?
  • SECTION 1
    • Operating Room
    • Spaces optimization for workflow & safety.
    • Phaco Machine
    • Technology is the king so know the machine & how the Centurion phaco platform can aid you in having optimal surgical outcomes
    • Microscope
    • “You can’t do what you can’t see”
    • Alcon Ngenuity as a progressive new mode of visualization
    • Instruments
    • Sterilization methods.
    • Essentials: ”Every carpenter has a hammer & a saw in his toolbox”
    • Well trained Team
    • Anesthesia
    • Nurse
    • Consumables & their role in optimizing surgical outcomes
    • Viscoelastic
    • IOL
    • Phaco system Cassette
  • SECTION 2: Phaco as “your everything.”
    • “The blessed”. To be a skilled compassionate phaco surgeon is to unlock your true calling
    • The key role of Phaco in your practice (The 80% rule)
    • Phaco Economics & the correlation of practice prosperity to active surgical practice & commitment to surgical excellence

• Module 4: Your Journey to Surgical Readiness
  • SECTION 1: Andragogy: Adult Learning
    • Competency-Based
    • Objective Driven
    • Consistent Evaluation

    SECTION 2: Cognitive, Integrative, and Autonomous Stage 1.

    • Critical Thinking in Phaco
    • Whole-Part-Whole Learning Model

    SECTION 3: 80% of Phaco it’s outside the OR

    • Hyperfocus, Exercise to concentrate on Surgery Coordination
    • Coordination exercises in phaco
    • Foot-Hand- Ear-Eye
    • Fine movements with your hands
    • Phacodynamics

• Module 5: Mental training for surgeons
  • Concentration capacity (Mindfulness) & Neurolinguistics Programing
  • Critical thinking and Problem Solving
  • Complication Mindset
  • Communication in the operating room

• Module 6: Prior to surgery
  • Patient Status (Diseases, Conditions)
  • Risk Evaluation
  • IOL Calculation
  • IOL Selection
  • Costs (Ideal vs. reality)
  • “How to sell” (Premium & toric lenses)

• Module 7: Team & OR
  • Assistants
  • Workflows and Leadership
  • Nurses
  • Technicians
  • Anesthesiologist

• Module 8: Phacodynamics

• • Phaco Fundamentals
  • “Equilibrium”. What goes out must equal what goes in!
  • Pumps.
  • Why own a Ferrari if you cannot drive a 5-speed car
  • The pedal.
  • Flowability/holdability. Know this & you are the master of your domain
  • Ultrasound. It’s more a jackhammer than a shovel.
  • Where are we going?

• Module 9: Anesthesia – Visualization – Ergonomics
  • SECTION 1: Anesthesia
    • Types
    • Advantages in different cataract surgery scenarios
    • When topical is the wrong choice
  • SECTION 2: Visualization
    • Microscopes fundamentals for microsurgery
    • Microscope positioning relative to
    • Becoming panfocal to visualize from cornea to PC
    • Advantages of 3D imaging for cataract surgery
  • SECTION 3: Position of the patient and surgeon ergonomics
    • Principles of positioning
    • Protect yourself

• Module 9: Phaco Steps
  • INCISION
    • Types
    • Technique
    • Induce Astigmatism importance

    PARACENTESIS

    • Types
    • Technique
    • Position

    VISCOELASTIC INTRODUCTION

    • Types
    • Technique

    CAPSULORHEXIS

    • Rhexis Fundamentals
    • Rhexis Deconstructed
    • Rhexis in 3 dimensions
    • Reassemble the Rhexis

    HYDRODISSECTION NUCLEO FRACTIS

    • Different techniques
    • Importance of knowing different techniques

    IRRIGATION ASPIRATION

    • Anatomy
    • Cortex behavior
    • Movements (hands and IA tip)
    • Parameters

    IOL INSERTION

    • Wound interaction in which we need to be aware that the cartridge does not separate from the wound
    • The correct movement of the IOL in the AC and to direct it to the capsular bag

    VISCOELASTIC ASPIRATION

    • Remove the viscoelastic completely from the AC
    • Remove viscoelastic from behind the IOL
    • Parameters

    INCISION MANAGEMENT

    • Sutureless incision management
    • How to make a good suture for our incision

    INTRAOPERATIVE MEDICATION IN PHACO

    • Inammation control medication
    • Antibiotics

• Module 11: Advanced Techniques
  • Capsular Tension Ring
  • Malyugin Expansion Ring
  • Anterior Vitrectomy

 

• Module 12: Before Phase 2: General Knowledge
  • Understand your microscope
  • Ergonomics during Surgery
  • Know your Instruments
  • Understanding Phacodynamics

 

• Module 13: Before Phase 2: The Bioniko Models
  • How to practice Phaco in a simulated environment / Surgery overview
  • Phaco Chop / IOL Insertion
  • How to practice posterior capsular break with anterior vitrectomy
  • How to practice small pupil management
  • How to insert 3 pieces IOL

 

• Module 14: Before Phase 2: The Simulator
  • Introduction to Simulation & and Basic Use of the Simulator
  • Basic Elements of the Simulator
  • Ergonomics and Handling of the Microscope
  • Hand Position and Biomechanics

💡Your Experience Includes:
✔️ 100% online access — join from anywhere in the world
✔️ Interactive and hands-on modules to put learning into action
✔️ Personalized mentorship — includes a 1-hour private coaching session with an expert
✔️ Certificate from Oftalmouniversity, recognized internationally
✔️ Grants you eligibility for the in-person surgical simulation program

👥 Who Is This Course For?

• Ophthalmologists and eye surgeons looking to enhance their skills in cataract surgery.
• Medical residents and students aiming to specialize in ophthalmology.
• Allied health professionals interested in understanding cataract surgery for collaborative care.

💼 Career Impact:

Equipping yourself with the skills and knowledge from this course will significantly enhance your proficiency in cataract surgery, opening doors to advanced career opportunities, and ensuring you provide the highest standard of care to your patients.

Enroll in Cataract Academy Program today, and take the next big step in your medical career, ensuring clarity and vision for your patients, and unparalleled expertise for yourself!