HelpMeSee Expands Cataract Surgery Training in Latin America

HelpMeSee is expanding its cataract surgery training program in Latin America by joining forces with healthcare centers in Guatemala and Colombia. The partnerships aim to broaden access to high-fidelity simulation training for cataract surgeons across the region.

“These new partnerships expand the geographic reach of simulation-based training and reinforce our shared commitment to providing effective and equitable surgical education to future cataract surgeons,” says Van Lansingh, Director of Research and Business Development for Latin America, HelpMeSee.

The move builds on HelpMeSee’s ongoing effort to address the global shortage of cataract surgeons, particularly in underserved regions, says the company in a press release. Through the use of high-fidelity simulation technology, the nonprofit organization aims to improve access to cataract surgery training and accelerate the development of surgical skills. The two new centers join the Mexican Institute of Ophthalmology (IMO) in Queretaro, a long-standing regional partner of HelpMeSee.

The HelpMeSee training system is modeled after aviation simulation methods. The program includes instructor-led guidance, validated evaluation tools, and e-learning components to support skill acquisition and performance tracking.

As reported by HelMeSee, over 2,500 cataract specialists have been trained through their simulation-based approach, and 94% of experienced cataract surgeons recommend the program, according to a 2022 study published in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology.

Visualiza, HelpMeSee’s new partner in Guatemala, performs over 30% of the country’s cataract surgeries while employing just 2% of its ophthalmologists. In Colombia, COFCA’s MATRIX center serves as a surgical simulation lab within a larger care network that reaches more than 300,000 patients annually. HelpMeSee operates over 40 simulators and 15 training centers globally, working with institutions and governments to expand access to cataract surgery and address preventable blindness.