Virtual Reality-Based Medical Education in Ophthalmology: A Scoping Review.

Virtual reality (VR) is a rapidly growing concept in the field of medical education, offering significant potential for innovation. Assessing how VR is used in ophthalmology to teach medical students, residents, and attendings will help identify areas where VR can be further developed. Moreover, analyzing the strengths and limitations of VR in medical education, surgical training, and patient education within ophthalmology will provide valuable insights into its impact on the field. This scoping review aimed to (1) map the current applications of VR across ophthalmology education, (2) analyze the effectiveness of VR interventions for different learner groups, (3) identify gaps in current VR implementation, and (4) assess the quality of evidence supporting VR use in ophthalmology education. A literature review was performed by scanning databases including PubMed, IEEE Xplore®, and Education Resources Information Center (ERIC). Relevant articles published from 2015 to 2023 were identified through the databases. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were formed for the articles to be further analyzed for eligibility. Articles were further categorized based on their VR application and target learners. Most studies targeted the education of ophthalmology residents, highlighting a gap in VR use among students, other healthcare personnel, and patients. Future research should focus on expanding VR applications to these underrepresented groups. The rapid growth of VR in other areas of medical education suggests similar potential to enhance ophthalmology knowledge and skills across a more comprehensive audience. Research in the application of VR in ophthalmology education should extend beyond surgical training for residents to maximize its potential in improving patient care. For example, studies could explore how VR training improves the ophthalmic diagnostic skills of medical students, evaluate whether VR-based patient education enhances understanding of ophthalmic conditions and leads to improved patient outcomes, and whether VR training for opticians aids in the early detection of specific conditions like diabetic retinopathy. This review is limited by excluding grey literature, which may limit the material analyzed and overlook insights from non-peer-reviewed sources.