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 a microscope; a tabletop trinocular scope adds €200–450 if you don't have access to a surgical one. 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. In order of budget: a tabletop stereo or trinocular microscope (€200–450 street price, fine for suturing, rhexis and most anterior skills; trinocular versions take a camera for recording), a refurbished surgical microscope (typically up to 50 % below new price — the realistic choice for phaco and posterior work), or your department's existing OR or wetlab scope. 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 | + €200–450 tabletop scope |
| Department wetlab, 6 stations | Six solo stations, shared prep table | from €3,689.40 | existing OR scopes or 6 tabletop scopes |
| Course & congress, 10–100+ stations | Volume eye packs, Head 4 Eyes stations, white-label options | individual quote | supplied or venue-provided |
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 under €1,100 including a 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 a microscope; a tabletop trinocular scope (€200–450) is enough for suturing, capsulorhexis and most anterior-segment skills.
Do I need a real surgical microscope?
Not to start. Tabletop stereo and trinocular microscopes handle most anterior skills, and trinocular models take a camera for reviewing your sessions. 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. 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: 16 August 2026 · Training models are NOT for medical or human use, non-sterile, for demonstration and practice only.