Ophthalmology residency training in Jordan: an evaluation of quality and comparison with international standards.

Aim: To evaluate Jordanian ophthalmology residency programs in achieving competencies outlined by the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) and residents' satisfaction with available training programs in Jordan, and to highlight weakness points that may be improved and strengthened.

Methods: A closed-ended questionnaire was circulated to all ophthalmologists who completed their training in Jordanian institutions between 2006 and 2011, to measure the quality of residency training and satisfaction level with regards to clinical conferences, journal clubs, scientific lectures, wet lab sessions, simulations, outpatient clinics and operating room training. Barriers to a successful board exam were cited.

Mathematical analysis of the normal anatomy of the aging fovea.

Purpose: To mathematically analyze anatomical changes that occur in the normal fovea during aging.

Methods: A total of 2912 spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) normal foveal scans were analyzed. Subjects were healthy individuals, aged 13 to 97 years, with visual acuity ≥20/40 and without evidence of foveal pathology.

Factors affecting patients' pain intensity during in office intravitreal injection procedure.

Purpose: To determine factors associated with patients' comfort during routine in-office intravitreal injection.

Methods: Sixty patients receiving intravitreal injections over 15 months for macular edema because of diabetes, age-related macular degeneration, or retinal vein occlusion who were randomized into 3 groups to receive 1 of 3 commonly used forms of anesthesia-TetraVisc, proparacaine HCl, or tetracaine HCl-before receiving intravitreal injection were studied. Fifteen minutes after injection, patients were asked to rate their pain from 0 (no pain/no distress) to 10 (agonizing pain/unbearable distress) using a Visual Analog Pain score survey.