The Versatile Teaching Eye: an affordable, 3D-printed model eye for simulating ophthalmic examination

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the Versatile Teaching Eye (VT Eye), a 3D-printed model eye designed to provide an affordable examination simulator, and to report the results of a pilot program introducing the VT Eye and an ophthalmic training curriculum at a teaching hospital in Ghana.

Methods: TinkerCAD was used to design the VT Eye, which was printed with ABS plastic. The design features an adapter that permits use of a smartphone as a digital fundus. We developed a set of digital flashcards allowing for an interactive review of a range of retinal pathologies. An analog fundus was developed for practicing traditional slit lamp and indirect examinations as well as retinal laser practice. The model was used for a period of 2 weeks by ophthalmic trainees at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana, to practice indirect ophthalmoscopy, slit lamp biomicroscopy, smartphone funduscopy, and retinal image drawing. Results were assessed at by means of a pre-/post-training survey of 6 residents.

Results: The VT Eye accommodates diverse fundus examination techniques. Its 3D-printed design ensures cost-effective, high-quality replication. When paired with a 20 D practice examination lens, the digital fundus provides a comprehensive, interactive training environment for <$30.00 (USD). This device allows for indirect examination practice without requiring an indirect headset, which may increase the amount of available practice for trainees early in their careers. In the Ghana pilot program, the model's use in indirect examination training sessions significantly boosted residents' confidence in various examination techniques. Comparing pre- and post-session ratings, average reported confidence levels rose by 30% for acquiring clear views of the posterior pole, 42% for visualizing the periphery, and 141% for capturing important pathology using personal smartphones combined with a 20 D lens (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions: The VT Eye is readily reproducible and can be easily integrated into ophthalmic training curricula, even in regions with limited resources. It offers an effective and affordable training solution, underscoring its potential for global adoption and the benefits of incorporating innovative technologies in medical education.

Figure 1.

Computer-aided design schematic of the VT Eye, showcasing components for smartphone-based digital fundus examinations, traditional indirect ophthalmoscopy, and slit lamp examination practice.

Figure 2.

Image sequence demonstrating the smartphone-based digital fundus and flashcards created using the open-source Anki application. This sequence demonstrates a trainee conducting an examination to determine the condition depicted, then answer a question about risk factors for this condition. Once the question has been answered, the learner can click the “OCT” button to view the corresponding OCT image.

Video 1.

Demonstration of the Versatile Teaching Model Eye (VT Eye) being used with the smartphone-based digital fundus for review of fundus flashcards and the analog back for slit lamp and laser practice. [LINK TO VIDEO]