The Ophthalmology Surgical Competency Assessment Rubric for Intravitreal Injections (ICO-OSCAR:IVI)

(1) Background: Intravitreal injections (IVIs) are the most commonly performed intraocular procedure worldwide. Ensuring correct learning is essential to avoid complications. Our purpose was to develop an internationally valid tool to assess skill in performing IVIs. (2) Methods: A panel of six content experts designed a rubric for assessing the IVI procedure by using a modified Dreyfus scale of skill acquisition, dividing it into steps and providing objective behavioral descriptors for each level of skill in each category, following the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) guidance. The rubric draft was then critically reviewed by 12 international content experts, and their constructive comments were considered for the final rubric. (3) Results: The Ophthalmology Surgical Competency Assessment Rubric for IVI (ICO-OSCAR:IVI) is the proposed tool for assessing healthcare professionals training to perform IVI. (4) Conclusions: The ICO-OSCAR:IVI is the result of the consensus of an international expert panel. The methodology used for its development provides this rubric with face and content validity. It can be used globally to assess healthcare professionals training to perform IVI, as well as the impact of different teaching methods on performance. Further studies are required to establish intra- and inter-rater reliability, as well as the predictive validity of this tool.

Successful Implementation of a National Ethiopian Ophthalmology Review Course

Background: Development of a national ophthalmology review course for the education of residents and use of a standardized international exam as a metric of resident knowledge and education.Methods: A 3 day review course for all Ethiopian ophthalmology residents, taught by visiting and local faculty, in preparation for the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) exam. The ICO exam serves as an external and standardizing measurement of residency curriculum and preparedness for clinical practice. The course and exam was provided free of cost to residents. Baseline knowledge was assessed with the ICO exam in 2017 and results compared with performance each year after the introduction of the review course. Results: Over 2 years of implementation, the resident passage rates of the basic sciences and optics and refraction exams increased by 10% and 28% and a 15% improvement in passage rate of the clinical sciences exam. These scores were significantly higher than international averages. Additionally, increasing numbers of residents were able to sit for the advanced exam with a passage rate of 67% in 2019 compared to the international passage rate of 56%.Conclusions: The implementation of a national review course is feasible and effective in enhacing the education of ophthalmology residents in Ethiopia. The review course and ICO exam serves as a key metric in the education of Ethiopian residents and their knowledge as it compares to their peers in other countries.

Twenty years of International Council of Ophthalmology fellowships: description of the programme and the impact on more than 1100 awardees

Background/AimsThe International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) offers fellowship programmes to help young ophthalmologists, mainly from low-resource countries, improve their practical or research skills in ophthalmology subspecialty areas. Using questionnaires, the objective of the present study was to evaluate how the ICO Fellowship Programme has impacted on improving knowledge, skills and the careers of young ophthalmologists from low-resource countries.MethodsFrom 2001 to 2019 overall 1140 ICO fellowships were awarded. A questionnaire was sent to ICO fellows after the conclusion of their fellowship and another 3 years later. Part 1 contained 26 questions, while Part 2 had 21 questions. The answers were collected through an online platform and analysed descriptively thereafter.Results1101 Part 1 questionnaires had been sent to former fellows, with a return rate of 47% (516 responses) and 829 Part 2 questionnaires with a return rate of 47% (390 responses). Overall, 98.3% strongly or somewhat agreed that knowledge in their subspecialty has improved considerably. Whereas only 19% of them held a lecturer, senior lecturer or head of subspecialty department position prior to the fellowship, 46% of them held such a position 3 years after the fellowship was completed.ConclusionsThe ICO Fellowship Programmes aim to promote the enhancement of eye care delivery and eye health in low-resource countries, the professional development of young leaders and the improvement of eye care. The results of the current study confirm the expectation of such a positive impact. Moreover, almost half of the responding participants have been appointed to a local leadership position in their home country.

Differences in SARS-CoV-2 recommendations from major ophthalmology societies worldwide

ObjectiveSince the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a public health emergency, medical societies around the world published COVID-19 recommendations to physicians to ensure patient care and physician safety. During this pandemic, ophthalmologists around the world adapted their clinical and surgical practice following such guidelines. This original research examines all publicly available COVID-19 recommendations from twelve major ophthalmology societies around the world.Methods and analysisTwelve ophthalmology societies recognised by the International Council of Ophthalmology were included in this study. One society per each WHO region was included: the society selected was the one who had the highest number of national COVID-19 confirmed cases on 11 May 2020. In addition to these countries, the major ophthalmology society in each G7 country was included.ResultsTen out of 12 major international ophthalmology societies from countries covering all six WHO regions have given recommendations regarding urgent patient care, social distancing, telemedicine and personal protective equipment when caring for ophthalmic patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. While all guidelines emphasise the importance of postponing non-urgent care and taking necessary safety measures, specific recommendations differ between countries.ConclusionsAs there is no clear consensus on ophthalmology guidelines across countries, this paper highlights the differences in international ophthalmic care recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowledge of the differences in ophthalmic management plans will allow ophthalmologists and all eye care providers to consider the variety of international approaches and apply best practices following evidence-based recommendations during pandemics.

Landesweite Studien aus den Niederlanden und Finnland zur Häufigkeit von Augenverletzungen durch Feuerwerkskörper unter dem Einfluss verschiedener Schutzmaßnahmen

ZusammenfassungFeuerwerksbedingte Augenverletzungen treten weltweit v. a. bei privaten Feuerwerken auf. Zwei Register aus Finnland über 20 Jahre und aus den Niederlanden über 10 Jahre haben die Auswirkungen von Öffentlichkeitsarbeit und gesetzlichen Regelungen untersucht. Die Häufigkeit von Feuerwerksverletzungen in diesen beiden Ländern wurde in den letzten 10 Jahren auf etwa die Hälfte reduziert, indem die Anzahl der zulässigen Stunden für private Feuerwerke und strengere Vorschriften für die Verwendung von Feuerwerkskörpern festgelegt wurden. Zudem wurde die Öffentlichkeitsarbeit verstärkt und die Verwendung von Schutzbrillen empfohlen und erleichtert. Obwohl mit diesen Maßnahmen die Gesamtzahl der Verletzungen zurückgegangen ist, scheint die Schwere der Augenverletzungen in den Niederlanden möglicherweise aufgrund des höheren Gehalts an Schwarzpulver in Feuerwerkskörpern zuzunehmen. Vor allem Jungen und junge Männer sind von Augenverletzungen durch Feuerwerkskörper betroffen, ebenso wie Zuschauer, die von mehr als der Hälfte der Verletzungen betroffen sind. Es ist noch viel zu tun, um Feuerwerke sicherer zu machen – eine Herausforderung für alle länderübergreifenden ophthalmologischen Organisationen wie European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE) und International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) und die nationalen Gesellschaften gleichermaßen. Aber jedes Auge, das vor schweren Verletzungen bewahrt werden kann, ist die Mühe wert.