A simple eye model to objectively assess ophthalmoscopic skills of medical students

Abstract

Objectives: Ophthalmoscopy is an important clinical skill that is essential for medical students to master. Competency in the performance of this skill needs to be assessed objectively.

Design: The development of a simple, cheap eye model for objective assessment of ophthalmoscopic skills of medical students is described.

Setting: University of Liverpool.

Subjects: Undergraduate medical students.

Results: The model was used in 803 assessments and showed a high level of student performance, based on both checklist marking of the general approach to the examination and objective marking of the ability of students to manipulate the light beam, focus the lens and systematically examine the model's fundus.

Conclusions: The method described provides a simple, cost-effective, objective assessment of the performance of ophthalmoscopy.