OBJETIVE: Development of an animal model for practical instruction of eyelid surgery, directed to the general ophthalmologist and to the beginner in ophthalmic plastic surgery. METHODS: The porcine model was selected due to its similarity with the human lid anatomy. After a quick guided study with instructive material concerning basic aspects in eyelid surgery, with detailed instructions on the procedures to be performed, the practical training was started. The trained surgery techniques were pentagonal resection with direct reconstruction of the eyelid and Bick's original technique. The training was carefully monitored by instructors with wide experience in the subject. Each student used 4 lids. RESULTS: 14 ophthalmologists were trained using this model, applied in the "1º Curso de Cirurgia Palpebral em Animal" in December, 2001. At the end of the model, the students showed a high degree of subjective skill confidence, believing that the experience had contributed positively to their practical development in eyelid surgery. CONCLUSION: The porcine animal model can be an important step in the transition of the theoretical sphere to practical skill qualification in ocular plastic surgery, and it can be used as an effective instruction strategy for pentagonal resection with direct reconstruction of the eyelid and Bick's original technique.
Eyelids; Models, animal; Training; Surgery; Surgical procedures, operative
