RESUMEN
Background: A journal club session tends to be boring after many hours of work during the week. Attendees lose their attention span shortly after the activity begins. Objectives: To introduce a new educational model, including the use of digital media devices and social media, in journal club teaching and to evaluate whether this new model could prolong attendees’ attention span. Methods: An online survey from the ophthalmology journal club was conducted to evaluate the range of attention span, the problems and suggestions. Then a team was convened to build a new educational model based on the survey results. Observations in the classroom, the information gathered from the social media, and a post-action online survey were used to evaluate the outcomes. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used for data analyses. Results: There were 20 journal club sessions during the study period. The journal club is comprised of 30 residents, 10 fellows and 19 staff members. The pre-action survey showed important information about the most boring part and the median attention span was 30 minutes. After the new educational model was introduced, the median attention span increased to 55 minutes (p<0.001, Wilcoxon signed ranks test). The status of the attendees, frequency of attendance, and frequency of falling asleep did not show statistically significant association with longer attention span. Students’ achievement scores were good. Conclusion: The new educational model increased the attendees’ attention span and provided learning achievement in the ophthalmology journal club.
RESUMEN
Background: Sleep apnea syndrome is one of the leading causes of excessive daytime sleepiness. There is no literature exploring the prevalence of sleep-associated disorders in the eye of Asians with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA). Objective: Study the prevalence of eye abnormalities in Asian patients with OSA. Material and method: Asian patients with definite OSA diagnosis via the polysomnography were recruited into the study. Complete eye examination and special investigations were performed to define eye diseases: floppy eyelids, dry eyes, keratoconus, Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy, recurrent corneal erosions, open-angle glaucoma, ophthalmoplegia, papilledema and optic neuropathy. Results: One-hundred Asian OSA patients were examined. We found that floppy eyelids, dry eyes, and normal tension glaucoma were more prevalent compared to the normal population. Abnormal endothelial change and papilledema were detected. Optic neuropathy and ophthalmoplegia were not found in this study, although some patients did have subnormal contrast sensitivity. Conclusion: There is a higher prevalence of floppy eyelids, dry eyes, and glaucoma in OSA patients. Complete eye examination is recommended in OSA patients to detect early eye abnormalities.
RESUMEN
The presented pilot study compared the effectiveness of combined antibiotic ophthalmic solution (neomycin sulfate, polymyxin B sulfate and gramicidin) with a placebo (artificial tear) in the treatment of hordeolum after incision and curettage (I&C). A randomized, placebo-controlled trial with patients and investigators blinded from the start started from June 2002 to May 2003. Subjects were patients with untreated hordeolum who subsequently underwent I&C at the Ophthalmology Department. The patients were randomized into 2 groups: group A for combined antibiotic ophthalmic solution, and group B for artificial tear containing the antibiotic solution base. Pain score, mass size and duration of cure were recorded before and on the 3rd and 7th day after treatment. The study included 14 patients in each group. Two subjects in group A and three subjects in group B dropped out. There were no statistically significant differences of all outcomes in both groups, even with the intention-to-treat analysis. The conclusion is combined antibiotic ophthalmic solution is not more effective than placebo in the treatment of hordeolum after I&C.