Does access to a portable ophthalmoscope improve skill acquisition in direct ophthalmoscopy? A method comparison study in undergraduate medical education.

Background: Direct ophthalmoscopy (DO) is an essential skill for medical graduates but there are multiple barriers to learning this. Medical students and junior doctors typically lack confidence in DO. Most students do not own an ophthalmoscope and learn via ward devices that vary in design and usability.

Severe ocular trauma-The hidden danger of plastic bottles when throwing out the rubbish.

This is the first reported case of ocular trauma caused by a plastic bottle cap occurring accidentally without misuse. The mechanism involved an un-emptied plastic bottle containing orange juice being thrown away with other rubbish. The combination of this minor impact and the pressure built up within the bottle through fermentation caused expulsion of the cap at high velocity.

Glaucoma awareness and access to healthcare: perceptions among glaucoma patients in Tanzania.

Objective: To investigate the barriers to access to eye health services for patients with glaucoma in Tanzania with the aim of identifying key areas for improvement and further research.

Design: Qualitative investigation using face-to-face semi-structured interviews with patients recruited from the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) outpatient eye clinic. This project is part of the international strategy of the Research into Glaucoma and Ethnicity (ReGAE) programme.