Training Hub · Cataract & IOL
Cataract Surgery Training, Practice Every Step Before the OR
How do you practice cataract surgery outside the OR? With artificial training eyes that replicate each step (corneal incisions, capsulorhexis, phacoemulsification and IOL implantation) at your desk, whenever you want. eyecre.at has built cataract training models in Austria since 2014, with transparent pricing from €45 per eye and worldwide shipping. Don't wait for the next wetlab course: build your own practice setup and train as often as you operate.
The skills, step by step
One procedure, six trainable skills
-
1
Incisions & wound construction
Clean, self-sealing corneal incisions are the foundation of every cataract case, and the first thing that suffers under time pressure. Practice blade angle and tunnel length until wound construction is automatic, and finish each session by suturing your incisions to build closure skills for the day you need them.
-
2
Capsulorhexis
The rhexis rewards pure repetition more than any other step: tear-vector control, re-grasping rhythm and rescue manoeuvres only become reliable after dozens of runs. Do focused rhexis-only sessions, ten runs in a row, ideally on video, before combining it with phaco. A reusable open-sky model keeps the cost per repetition low; the closed-chamber eye then adds realistic anterior chamber dynamics.
Zero-budget start: the skin of a ripe tomato and the membrane of a hard-boiled egg are classic first targets to get a feel for tear-vector control before you move to a realistic capsule. And you don't even need to buy a cystotome: bend your own rhexis needle from a 27G cannula. Watch how in our 2-minute video ↗ -
3
Phacoemulsification
Progress deliberately: start with a soft nucleus and a 7 mm pupil, then increase density, then shrink the pupil. The Eye 4 Cataract comes prefilled with stable chamber pressure in three lens densities (soft, medium, hard) and two pupil sizes (7 mm and 4 mm small-pupil), so you can ladder difficulty the same way real case complexity grows.
-
4
IOL implantation
Injector loading, insertion and positioning in the bag deserve their own drills. Fumbling the IOL after a perfect phaco is a self-inflicted complication. A dedicated IOL model lets you practise loading and unfolding without using up full cataract eyes.
-
5
Complication management
The cases that define a surgeon are the ones that go wrong. Train posterior capsule rupture recognition and response (stopping phaco, protecting the vitreous face, converting your plan) in a model built to break the way a real capsule does.
-
6
Advanced & special techniques
When the routine steps sit, extend your range: sutureless scleral IOL fixation (Yamane), phakic ICL implantation, or the combined phaco + vitrectomy workflow. Read our guide to mastering the Yamane technique →
Which model for what
All cataract models at a glance
Prices load live from our store. What you see here is what you pay at checkout.
| Model | Best for | Pack | Pack price | Per eye |
|---|
Complete your bench
Matching instruments, knives, pads & holders
Everything below works with all Eye 4 models. Prices load live from the store.
Instruments & knives
Pads & holders
Consumables & refills
Recommended practice setups
Three ways to start
Solo starter
12× Eye 4 Cataract (choose your densities) plus the portable PadPro 4 Eye holder: enough for a month of structured phaco practice at any desk.
from €614.90
Eye 4 Cataract → PadPro 4 Eye →Complete rhexis-to-IOL
Kit 4 Rhexis with Cataract, paired with the Head 4 Eyes holder for a realistic head position under the microscope. Refill packs available when you need them.
from €878.90
Kit 4 Rhexis with Cataract → Head 4 Eyes →Course & wetlab scale
Large refill packs, Head 4 Eyes stations and volume pricing for residency programs and congress wetlabs: from 10 to 10,000+ units, white-label included.
volume pricing
Plan your wetlab with us →Does simulation training actually work?
Watch it done
Cataract training on video
Keep learning
Trusted external resources
Our models cover the hands-on side. For theory, structured courses and surgical case videos, these independent platforms are excellent companions:
Learn with faculty
Official courses & wetlabs
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How can I practice cataract surgery at home?
With artificial training eyes and a portable holder, you can practise capsulorhexis, phaco and IOL implantation at any desk with a microscope or loupes. A starter setup costs from about €615 (12 eyes plus holder), no wetlab booking required.
Are artificial eyes better than pig eyes for cataract training?
For cataract, artificial eyes are usually the better choice: porcine capsules behave differently from human ones, and artificial models offer graded nucleus densities and consistent anatomy. Pig eyes remain excellent for other skills. We supply setups for both and will tell you honestly which fits your goal.
What does a cataract training eye cost?
€45 to €99 per eye depending on the model, sold in packs of 6 or 12; complete kits start from €499. All prices are public on our store, no quote request needed.
How many training eyes do I need?
Plan repetitions, not sessions: for a focused skill like the rhexis, surgeons typically go through 10+ runs per week in the early phase. The 12-eye Eye 4 Cataract pack covers roughly a month of structured practice; reusable models like Eye 4 Open Sky lower the cost per repetition.
Can I train complications like posterior capsule rupture?
Yes. The Eye 4 Compromised Capsule Bag is built to simulate capsular complications, so you can train PCR recognition and response before it happens in a patient.
Whatever the problem
Your training challenge is our daily work
Every wetlab is different: procedures, budgets, tissue preferences, scale. We solve training problems with human and animal tissue and highly realistic 3D-printed models, built on more than 20 years of hands-on experience in ophthalmic training wetlabs and 12 years of developing training solutions as an independent Austrian company, trusted by leading ophthalmic companies worldwide. If your problem isn't on this page, it has most likely been on our workbench before.
For industry & programs
Planning a congress wetlab, device training or a residency phaco curriculum? We equip cataract wetlabs at any scale, from 10 to 10,000+ units, white-label included.