Set up an ophthalmic wetlab: from one desk to a full course
Short answer: you need five things: a stable bench, magnification, a fixation system, practice instruments, and something to operate on: artificial training eyes or real tissue. A complete single-station setup starts at €614.90 plus magnification; our tested, pre-assembled Set Microscope 4 Training (€672 with hard case trolley, €507 without) covers suturing, cornea, lid and most anterior skills, while vitrectomy still needs a surgical scope. This guide covers each component with real prices, from a resident's desk to a 100-station congress wetlab.
The components, step by step
Bench & room
Any stable desk in a room you can darken slightly is enough for a single station. Plan roughly 80 cm of bench width per station, a chair at operating height, and a power outlet per workstation. For multi-station labs, add space to walk behind seated trainees and one shared prep table for eyes and consumables. No water connection is needed for artificial eyes. That requirement only comes with real tissue.
Magnification
The most expensive component, and the one with the widest range of workable answers. For suturing, cornea, conjunctiva, lid, IVT and most anterior skills, our Set Microscope 4 Training is the ready-made answer: a trinocular stereo zoom microscope with ring light and 4K camera, tested on eyecre.at holders, delivered pre-assembled, with our 3D-printed Parfocal Adapter 4 Camera so the monitor image and the eyepieces stay in focus together. Take the hard case trolley version for any station that travels. For phacoemulsification with a machine and posterior work, a refurbished surgical microscope (typically up to 50 % below new price) or your department's existing OR scope is the better choice. Loupes work for first suturing exercises but tire quickly at cataract working distances.
Fixation: holding the eye steady
The difference between frustrating and productive practice is almost always fixation. For artificial eyes, a weighted pad holder is the standard single-station answer; a mannequin head adds the realistic orbit position and drape feel for microscope work at full working height.
Instruments & consumables
You do not need OR-grade titanium to learn motion patterns. Dedicated practice instruments keep the cost of a full set low, and per-session consumables (blades, viscoelastic, dyes) are a few euros per trainee.
Something to operate on
Artificial eyes are available on demand, anatomically human, and need no cold chain or biological-waste handling. Pick the model for your procedure in the matching guide: Cataract & IOL · Vitrectomy & Retina · Intravitreal Injection · Glaucoma & MIGS. If your course trains on porcine or human donor tissue, our real tissue guide covers sourcing, storage, fixation and disposal in detail.
Which setup for what: at a glance
| Setup | What it includes | eyecre.at price | With magnification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo station, home or office | PadPro 4 Eye + 12× Eye 4 Cataract + practice instruments & consumables | from €614.90 | + €672 Set Microscope 4 Training (hard case), or €507 without case |
| Department wetlab, 6 stations | Six solo stations, shared prep table | from €3,689.40 | existing OR scopes or 6× Set Microscope 4 Training |
| Course & congress, 10 to 100+ stations | Volume eye packs, Head 4 Eyes stations, white-label options | individual quote | Set Microscope 4 Training stations supplied, or venue-provided scopes |
All eyecre.at prices are public. See the full pricing overview. Prices exclude VAT.
Recommended path
Start smaller than you think
One functioning station that gets used beats six that wait for a budget approval. A resident can start tonight for around €1,120 including our tabletop microscope.
Scale by copying, not redesigning
A department wetlab is six solo stations sharing a prep table: same holder, same eyes, same consumables. One product list, multiplied.
For congress scale, hand it over
From 10 to 10,000+ eyes we deliver volume packs, stations and white-label options to the venue, and take setup off your list.
Does wetlab training actually work? Yes, and it's measured. Across 25 published studies, simulation-based cataract training showed positive effects on surgical performance in 88 % of them, and resident cohorts with simulation training show significantly lower posterior capsule rupture rates (odds ratio 0.71).
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum equipment for an ophthalmic wetlab?
A stable bench, magnification, an eye holder, practice instruments and training eyes. A complete single station costs from €614.90 plus magnification; the Set Microscope 4 Training (€507, or €672 in a hard case trolley) is enough for suturing, capsulorhexis and most anterior-segment skills.
Do I need a real surgical microscope?
Not to start. Our Set Microscope 4 Training handles most anterior skills: trinocular stereo zoom, ring light and a 4K camera for the monitor, tested on eyecre.at holders and delivered pre-assembled, with a parfocal adapter so camera image and eyepieces stay in focus together. For phacoemulsification with a machine, posterior work, or course settings that should feel like the OR, a refurbished surgical microscope (typically up to 50 % below new price) or your department's existing scope is the better choice.
How much does a wetlab for a residency programme cost?
A six-station department wetlab starts at about €3,700 in training equipment (six holders and six 12-packs of cataract eyes), assuming microscopes are already available (add €672 per station for the Set Microscope 4 Training with hard case). Volume pricing applies from 10 packs upward; we invoice institutions directly and accept purchase orders.
Should we train on artificial eyes or real tissue?
Artificial eyes need no cold chain, no biological-waste handling and no special room requirements, and they are anatomically human, for cataract training in particular. Porcine eyes remain excellent for scleral and corneal work and cost less per unit, but add sourcing and disposal logistics. Many programmes run both; our real tissue guide covers the logistics honestly.
Can eyecre.at equip an entire congress wetlab?
Yes, from 10 to 10,000+ eyes, including holders, stations, consumables, white-label options and delivery to the venue. Tell us the date and the number of stations: plan your congress wetlab.
Last updated: 21 October 2026 · Training models are NOT for medical or human use, non-sterile, for demonstration and practice only.