Undergraduate ophthalmology education – A survey of UK medical schools

Abstract

Changes in the UK undergraduate medical curriculum mean that a clinical placement in ophthalmology is no longer a requirement. An ophthalmic assessment is necessary for a full physical examination and failure to elicit and interpret signs could mean missing sight and life-threatening pathology. This study was to investigate current undergraduate ophthalmology teaching. An email questionnaire, about the content and delivery of the ophthalmology teaching, was sent to each UK medical school in 2007/2008. The response rate was 83%. Nineteen (79%) medical schools had a compulsory attachment to the ophthalmology department with an average length of 7.6 days (range 3.5-15 days). There was variation as to how ophthalmology was included in the curriculum. Teaching methods and standards also varied. Finally, assessments ranged from formal written and practical exams in some medical schools to informal or non-existent ones in others. The most striking finding was the variation in ophthalmology education a student may receive, with some students receiving none. It is necessary to improve the profile of ophthalmology and ensure that all students achieve a minimum basic standard.

Re: Shah et al.: The state of ophthalmology medical student education in the United States and Canada, 2012 through 2013 (Ophthalmology 2014;121:1160-3)

“…2 However, in clinical practice, we have also found that this would not be necessary for the majority of patients. 3 In certain glaucoma patients, especially more advanced eyes, however, it is performed according to the judgment of the physician.…”

Importance of a clinical ophthalmology placement in the UK undergraduate medical syllabus

“…The UK undergraduate medical curriculum no longer necessitates a clinical placement in ophthalmology (Baylis et al 2011). The General Medical Council's Tomorrow's Doctors documents on undergraduate medical education outcomes and clinical placements underline the importance of core clinical placements, of which an ophthalmic placement is not stipulated.…”

Direct ophthalmoscopy should be taught to undergraduate medical students—yes

“…Over the past 30 years, the duration of the ophthalmology placement has dwindled in the United States, 1 the United Kingdom, 2 and elsewhere. 3 The inescapable truth is that without renewed activism from ophthalmologists interested in the education of tomorrow's doctors, 1 the ophthalmology clerkship-exposed by poor representation from ophthalmologists on medical school committees-may soon disappear entirely.…”

“…3 The inescapable truth is that without renewed activism from ophthalmologists interested in the education of tomorrow's doctors, 1 the ophthalmology clerkship-exposed by poor representation from ophthalmologists on medical school committees-may soon disappear entirely. [1][2][3] The likely outcome is a generation of clinicians who lack confidence and competence in basic ophthalmic examination, 1 the management of simple eye complaints, and the safe triaging of patients under their care who develop serious ophthalmic disease. 4 Skills in direct ophthalmoscopy among undergraduates have declined in parallel.…”