Learning styles and the prospective ophthalmologist.

Purpose: Understanding the learning styles of individual trainees may enable trainers to tailor an educational program and optimise learning. Surgical trainees have previously been shown to demonstrate a tendency towards particular learning styles. We seek to clarify the relationship between learning style and learned surgical performance using a simulator, prior to surgical training.

New trends in glaucoma risk, diagnosis & management.

Recent advances have seen a surge of new ideas and technologies to aid in the detection, treatment and further understanding of glaucoma. These technologies and advances are discussed to provide information on risk-factors, diagnosis and treatment. Glaucoma has never before seen such an advance in research and therapies coming forward in to the clinical workplace.

Orbital adherence with titanium mesh floor implants: a review of 10 cases.

Background: Multiple materials have been used in the repair of orbital floor fractures. We report 10 cases of complications relating to the use of titanium mesh orbital floor implants.

Method: A retrospective review of 10 cases in 2 centres in New Zealand.

Safety of nondominant-hand ophthalmic surgery.

Purpose: To establish the safety of nondominant-hand simulated intraocular surgery.

Setting: Horizon Suite Simulation Centre, South Devon Foundation NHS Trust, Devon, United Kingdom.

Design: Cohort study.

Can virtual reality simulation help to determine the importance of stereopsis in intraocular surgery?

Aim: To establish the effect of acute loss of stereopsis on simulated intraocular surgical performance.

Methods: This study was performed using the EYESi ophthalmic surgical simulator. Thirty junior doctors with no previous ophthalmic surgical experience were enrolled and distance visual acuity (Snellen), near visual acuity and stereoacuity (Frisby) were recorded.

Effect of distraction on simulated anterior segment surgical performance.

Purpose: To determine the effect of distraction on anterior segment surgical performance using a virtual reality simulator in expert and novice surgeons.

Setting: Horizon Suite Simulation Centre, South Devon Foundation NHS Trust, Devon, England.

Design: Cohort study.

The movement of potential tumour margins with random flap reconstruction-a porcine skin demonstration.

Aim: To demonstrate with a visual model the movement of potential tumour recurrence margins with different random flap reconstruction methods.

Methods: A porcine skin model was marked using a skin marker with a tumour and four quadrant margins. Each quadrant was marked in a different color around the tumour.

Assessment of fatigue in intraocular surgery: analysis using a virtual reality simulator.

Aim: To determine the effect of fatigue on intraocular surgical performance using a virtual reality simulator.

Methods: Seven experienced ophthalmic surgeons were recruited. The first set of data collection was immediately before a live theatre session.

Tie hard 2- an in-vitro comparison of first throw tension holding in twisted v straight-first throws; using Polyglycolic acid (Dexon S), Polyglactin 910 (Coated Vicryl).

Objective: To compare the first throw tension holding properties of twisted versus straight first throws in two commonly used Oculoplastic braided absorbable sutures.

Design: An in-vitro experimental model.

Methods: Variable loads were applied to the first double throw of a surgical knot - either in straight-line configuration or twisting the knot using both 6/0 Polyglycolic acid (Dexon S) and 6/0 Polyglactin 910 (Coated Vicryl).

Old habits tie hard: an in vitro comparison of first-throw tension holding in Polyglycolic acid (Dexon S) and Polyglactin 910 (Coated Vicryl).

Purpose: To compare the first-throw tension holding property of two braided absorbable sutures commonly used in oculoplastic surgery.

Methods: The study was an in vitro experimental model. 6/0 Polyglycolic acid (Dexon S) and 6/0 Polyglactin 910 (Coated Vicryl) were compared using an experimental model to determine first-throw knot security.

Serial autofluorescence imaging over two years following indocyanine green-assisted internal limiting membrane peel for macular hole.

A 65-year-old patient with an idiopathic full-thickness macular hole underwent a vitrectomy, inner limiting membrane (ILM) peel and gas tamponade. The ILM was stained using 0.5% indocyanine green (ICG).