Shortening training duration to address the insufficiency of Ophthalmologists: A deeper look at the China experience

@#The availability of ophthalmologists is vital to making eyecare accessible to everyone. Medical education and ophthalmology residency training in China was reduced to address the high demand for ophthalmologists. This is something the Philippines can consider to increase the number of ophthalmologists in the country. However, decreasing the duration, together with insufficient monitoring of medical education and ophthalmology residency training, were not without consequences in eyecare in China.

Image acquisition with smart phone applied in ophthalmology residency training program / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM: To describe the application of image acquisition function of smart phone with slit lamp examination in the ophthalmology residency training program.<p>METHODS: The supporting set for smart phone can be securely connected to the ocular lens of slit lamp microscopy. The anterior or fundus photos and dynamic videos were obtained through slit lamp examination with non-contact lens, three-mirror lens or gonio lens. Acquired images or recorded videos were transmitted to ophthalmology trainee by using wireless local area network(WLAN), WeChat and other software.<p>RESULTS: High quality images and dynamic video could be successfully taken with smart phone and supporting set by slit lamp examination, which could clearly display tissue details and pathological features. The fast transmission of image data can enable more trainees to access clinic education resource simultaneously and communicate with each other timely and effectively.<p>CONCLUSION: High resolution smart phones are wildly used and supporting sets are very accessible; thus high quality of images could be easily obtained for clinical teaching purpose. Furthermore, it enriches the clinical teaching resources. So the application of image acquisition function of smart phone with slit lamp examination is worthy in the standardized training of ophthalmology residents.