Core Knowledge Skills White Paper
The AUPO MedEd Task Force has approved the following core curriculum of ophthalmology education for medical students
Core Examination Skills
Properly record Rosenbaum card and pinhole visual acuity
Assessment of pupils
Hirshberg alignment assessment
Extraocular muscle ductions
Confrontation visual fields
Penlight assessment of lids, conjunctiva/sclera, cornea and anterior chamber depth estimation
Assessment of clarity of media
Funduscopy
Core Procedural Skills
Instillation of drops
Lid eversion
Removal of superficial corneal/conjunctival foreign bodies
Ocular Irrigation
Red Flag Physical Findings
Orbit: cellulitis (septal/preseptal); proptosis
Extraocular muscles: 3rd, 4th 6th nerve palsies; gross mal-alignment
Globe: gross rupture (or possibility of same)
Pupil: relative afferent papillary defect, anisocoria, light/near dissociation, leukocoria, amblyopia
Visual Field: gross defects
Lid: ptosis, lid lag/stare, swelling, masses
Cornea: abrasions, infectious ulcers (bacterial or viral), foreign body
Conjunctiva: tarsal/ forniceal foreign body; hemorrhage; severe hyperpurulent conjunctivitis (gonoccal) or conjunctivitis with lymphadenopathy (epidemic keratoconjunctivitis)
Anterior chamber: shallow chamber, angle closure
Fundus: normal anatomy (disc mantra; retina) vs. abnormal; disc edema, Hollenhorst plaque; glaucomatous cupping; macular degenerative changes
Knowledge Base
Never prescribing topical anesthetics or steroids
Ocular adverse effects of systemic medications
Oral/topical/injected/inhaled steroids
Topiramate
Amiodarone
Aminoquinolones
Adrenergic/anticholinergics capable of angle closure; concept of narrow angles
Red flag symptoms
Eye pain
Diplopia
Flashes floaters curtains
Sudden visual loss
Ocular Conditions associated with mortality
Orbital cellulitis
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Retinoblastoma
Tumors
The background behind this curriculum was presented at the inaugural meeting of the AUPO-CMSE at the AAO in November 2007.
Those slides may be viewed at the link below.