Indirect Ophthalmoscopy: Training with conventional hardware versus the Eyesi?? indirect ophthalmoscopy simulator

摘要

Purpose: To present results of a randomized, double blind study performed on students trained in indirect ophthalmoscopy on either "reala?? hardware or a "virtuala?? Eyesi?? Indirect. Methods: 130 students (six per day) got a number and were randomized and trained by several trainers in two groups to learn fundus examination with the principle of indirect ophthalmoscopy. Students in group I (n=65) were trained on the Heine Omega?? 500 binocular indirect ophthalmoscope examining each other. Group II (n=65) got trained on an Eyesi?? Indirect ophthalmoscope system. At the end of the training phase all students were examined on patients eyes by trainers (through a teaching mirror), Trainers were not informed about the training tool on which trainees had trained on before. Findings were drawn onto a paper template. Results: 48 students in group I were able to detect the optic disc, the arcades and the macula area and draw their findings over a time period of no more than 2 min. In group II 63 students diagnosed and documented successfully on time. The difference was statistically significant (Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney-Test: p 0,05). The avarage time students in group II needed to complete the task was 25 seconds less than average time of students in group I. Conclusions: Virtual-Reality based education needs approval for its relevance in teaching. A variety of studies exist for virtual reality-based surgical devices such as Eyesi?? surgical1 but none so far regarding the diagnostic teaching tool Eyesi indirect ophthalmoscope. Beside the fact that our double-blind randomized study has prooven significant advantages of the training with the virtual-reality-based indirect ophthalmoscope, we should stress the fact that the training on the Eyesi?? device resulted in shorter observation periods in general. The patient gets exposed to less light which comes along with more comfort and potentially less light toxicity risk. The presented work investigated the teaching of manual skills for ophthalmo-scope handling. It is an interesting, open question if the cognitive part of ophthalmoscope-based diagnostics can also be taught more efficiently by means of simulation. References: 1McCannel, C.A., D.C. Reed, and D.R. Goldman, Ophthalmic Surgery Simulator Training Improves Resident Performance of Capsulorhexis in the Operating Room. Ophthalmology, 2013.