Primary Health Eye Care: Evaluation of the Competence of Medical Students in Performing Fundoscopy with the Direct Ophthalmoscope

Background: To evaluate the skill of fifth-year medical students at the University of Cape Town in the performance of fundoscopy at the end of their ophthalmology rotation. Methods: The design was a prospective cohort study. The study was conducted at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. The ability of fifth-year medical students to perform fundoscopy on mannequin heads fitted with fundus photographs using direct ophthalmoscopes was evaluated. The outcome measures used were ability to see the fundus and ability to recognise fundus pathology. Results: The fundus photographs could be seen in 95of cases. The correct diagnosis could be made in only 57of cases. Conclusion: Medical students at the University of Cape Town need more than the current one week of practical ophthalmology training to improve their fundoscopy skills

Non-traumatic ocular findings in industrial technical workers in Delta State; Nigeria

Purpose: To determine the pattern of non-traumatic ocular disorders in industrial technical workers in the Delta state; Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study of the pattern of non-traumatic ocular disorders among industrial technical workers in 3 factories in Ughelli North local Government Area of Delta state; Nigeria was conducted between February; 2002 and May; 2002. In addition to the demographic; the workers were studied for the presence of any non-trauma related ocular findings. Visual acuity of these workers was obtained as well as ocular examination was performed by using the Snellen's chart; pen torch; ophthalmoscope; Perkins hand-held tonometer; Ishihara plates. Patients were refracted if their visual acuity was less than normal. Results: Five hundred technical workers were screened that included 200 (40) from the construction industry; 180 (36) from the rubber factory and 120(24) from the oil mill. All the workers studied were males. Ocular disorders were seen in 664 (66.4) of the eyes. The most common ocular disorders were pingueculum 215 (21.5); presbyopia 97 (9.7); refractive error 94 (9.4); pterygium 86 (8.6) and chronic conjunctivitis 45 (4.5). None of the workers was blind from non-traumatic causes. Only 36 (7.2) workers wore any protective eye devices at work. Conclusion: Non-traumatic ocular disorders are common in the industrialized technical workers in the Delta state of Nigeria. The use of protective eye devices is low in these workers and suggests that measures to implement ocular safety should be undertaken in these industries