Three-dimensional eye model may aid medical student instruction, surgeon says

PHILADELPHIA — A three-dimensional model of the extraocular muscle system may be an effective aid for teaching medical students about eye movement and ocular disease, according to a surgeon speaking here at the Wills Eye Institute 60th Annual Alumni Conference.

John M. Cropsey, MD, developed the model, which depicts muscles working like kinetic pulleys.

"When I was in medical school and I learned about the trochlea, I was fascinated by that and was amazed that the body actually had a pulley in it. I thought that was pretty cool ... and I was compelled to build a model about it," Dr. Cropsey said.

Mounted on a small wooden platform, the model comprises a series of symmetrically placed metal struts and flexible pulleys connected to a tennis ball-sized eye model. These struts and pulleys can be manipulated to move the eye, he said.

An ongoing study is examining how well medical students and residents retain information learned in conjunction with using the model. Participants were assigned to one of two study groups: One group uses traditional two-dimensional visual aids, such as Microsoft PowerPoint slides, and the second group uses the new 3-D model.

Participants complete a follow-up questionnaire every 3 months.

The model may be particularly useful in clinical lab instruction, where visual aids, such as slides, are not available, Dr. Cropsey said.

"Is it helpful? It might be," he said. "We are still waiting for the 3-month follow-up to see which group retains knowledge better. That's still coming in."