We’re taking ophthalmoscopy training to a whole new level of realism and inclusivity with the exciting relaunch of one of our most popular products.
The Adam,Rouilly Enhanced Digital Eye Examination and Retinopathy Trainer has been given a significant upgrade, with an extended library of eye conditions, presented with even greater clarity in true-to-life colour, on high-resolution circular LCD screens.
And, for the first time ever, advanced digital technology allows trainees to experience how the same eye condition can present differently in patients with light and dark skin tones.
In darker-skinned patients, deeper pigmentation in the fundus reduces vessel visibility and this nuance has now been replicated in the dark skin version of the new trainer.
This innovative feature provides medical students with a more realistic learning experience, giving them the competence and confidence to spot conditions in the variety of patients they are likely to come across in their real-world clinics and care settings.
Designing medical solutions to address real-world training needs
As with many of the medical education solutions designed and manufactured in-house by the Adam,Rouilly team, the Digital Eye Examination Trainer was also developed in collaboration with medical experts.
Our first eye trainer model was created some 30 years ago when Professor, Diabetes and Clinical Skills, Vinod Patel, approached us with an idea to design a model that could help teach retinal examination and ophthalmoscopy, particularly in relation to eye conditions linked to diabetes.
Professor Patel explains: “Retinal examination was previously only taught through pictures of slide sets in a book. Students rarely saw the conditions in a realistic scenario using an ophthalmoscope.
“Yet picking up diseases early and giving a more accurate diagnosis improves outcomes for patients.”
He was teaching complications of diabetes at the time, and wanted to show students conditions such as diabetic maculopathy, macular degeneration and glaucoma more authentically than through pages in a book.
“I wanted to create a model that simulates the back of the eye in patients with various retinal conditions, so invited myself to Adam,Rouilly, where I worked together with modellers to create a manikin that would facilitate this,” he said.
“It brought learning to life in a way that hadn’t been possible before and was soon being used in clinical skills training, OSCEs and various exams around the world.”
Redefining the standard in ophthalmoscopy training
After several years of success, it was time to enhance the previous Digital Eye Examination Trainer, both in line with advances in digital technology and to ensure it continues to meets the training needs of students today.
One of the crucial upgrades is the inclusion of images showing how conditions present in darker-skinned patients. This was developed with input from with Leicester University Medical School, which needed a digital eye model which better reflects the diversity of patients in real-world communities.
By working with consultants at Leicester University Medical School and Professor Patel, we have again redefined the standard in ophthalmoscopy training.
New features of the Enhanced Digital Eye Examination and Retinopathy Trainer include:
- An enhanced library of 36 eye conditions and diseases presented digitally
- Light skin tone conditions on product AR503, dark skin toned conditions on product AR503/50
- Greater clarity images with true-to-life colour on high-resolution circular LCD screens
- A 4.3-inch external touchscreen interface for intuitive and efficient set up
- The ability to search and preview conditions
- Sort conditions in random, custom sets
- Exam mode to hide condition names and numbers for assessment scenarios
- Compatibility with battery or USB-C power
The new product provides greater ease of use for institutions whilst providing a more realistic learning experience for students. “It’s deeply satisfying to know students can look at the back of someone’s eye and see neural tissues, veins, legions, papilledema and so on,” Professor Patel said. “It’s about teaching people how to use an ophthalmoscope, recognise conditions and suggest how they would treat them.
“These are important clinical skills for all medical students. In A&E, for example, you would always need to identify papilledema, and with diabetes increasing in prevalence globally, it’s important that its associated eye conditions can be diagnosed early too.
“While the quality of the enhanced trainer is significantly improved, the diversity aspect is really quite innovative. It means students will be much better equipped to spot conditions in different patient groups.”
As well as the sense of pride from helping to transform outcomes in patient care, Professor Patel says the collaboration has also been enjoyable from a personal perspective.“It’s been great working with the team at Adam,Rouilly and having ‘inventor’ on the CV,” he added.
Leicester University Medical School uses the Digital Eye Trainer with fourth and fifth year medical students, including in OSCEs.
Joyce Burns, Consultant Ophthalmologist at the university, said: “It was brilliant that the Adam,Rouilly team were able to make these improvements, it’s a really positive development.”
Collaboration in medical education solutions
Adam,Rouilly Director of Products, Research and Development, Daniel Mogentale, said: “We really value the input and expertise from medical professionals who are out there in the real world, training our future generations of healthcare workers.
“By designing products that solve those teaching gaps we can help set students up to be confident and capable of treating patients from all cultures and backgrounds.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the input from Professor Patel again, and from the team at Leicester University Medical School.”
Alongside the Digital Eye Examination and Retinopathy Trainer we have launched our Enhanced Digital Ear Examination Trainer, also in collaboration with an industry expert. These items can be purchased individually or as part of an educational set.
For more information about realistic, long-lasting clinical skills simulators and task trainers, please get in touch with our Sales Team, who are always happy to offer advice about the products available within your budgets.
