The introduction of digital dental technology into BDS curricula.

The aim of this study was to determine the degree to which digital dental technologies have been introduced into the curricula of UK dental schools. A survey was carried out of all the UK dental schools that teach undergraduate dental students. The survey contained six questions and was designed to determine if digital dental technology techniques or systems were being taught in the curricula, what these techniques were, and whether the school dental laboratories supported these techniques. Sixteen schools were surveyed and 11 replied: a response rate of 69%. Forty-five percent of the schools that replied did not teach digital dental technology in their curriculum. Of the 55% of schools who did teach digital dental technology, 50% gave lectures or demonstrations while the other 50% allowed practical involvement by the student. Two thirds of these stated that not all the students participated in practical usage. Seventy-three percent of the schools that replied had dental laboratories using some, but not all the digital dental technology techniques listed. Eighty percent of the schools that were not teaching digital dental technology said it was because it was not included in the curriculum, and 20% stated it was due to a lack of technical expertise or support.

High-volume intraocular lens surgery in a rural eye camp in India.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The appropriate surgical treatment for the enormous number of patients in developing nations who are blind due to cataract is a hotly debated issue. The authors objective is to demonstrate that modern surgical techniques (extracapsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation, phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation) can be performed in a high-volume, cost effective manner, even in temporary settings. The authors believe that the approach to cataract blindness is not simple intracapsular cataract extraction, but rather the challenge of (1) training all ophthalmic personnel in modern techniques (microsurgery, biometry), (2) training managers in higher levels of organizational skill, and (3) doing these things in the face of limited resources. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1298 surgeries were performed in a public eye camp in Ganeshpuri, India (50 miles north of Bombay). Of these, 1214 (93.5%) of the patients received intraocular lens (IOL) implants. Ninety-three percent (1032/1108) of the patients who underwent extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and IOL implantation and 89% (83/93) of the patients who underwent phacoemulsification and IOL implantation returned for follow-up. RESULTS: Postoperatively, 48% (498/1032) of the patients who underwent ECCE and IOL implantation achieved corrected vision of 6/12 or better and 65% (671/1032) attained corrected vision of 6/18 or better. Of the patients who underwent phacoemulsification and IOL implantation, 59 of 83 (71%) attained vision of 6/12 or better with correction and 68 of 83 (79%) achieved vision of 6/18 or better with correction. These results are almost identical to those obtained by the authors in their Ganeshpuri 1991 camp. Surgical complication rates were comparable to those reported in hospital-based studies. CONCLUSION: For this type of camp to operate efficiently, there must be standardization of skills among ophthalmic personnel, costs must be contained, and the organizational skills necessary to ensure smooth functioning of the camp must exist. However, on the basis of their data, these authors believe that with suitable organizational and surgical facilities, IOL implantation can be successfully performed in high-volume surgical eye camps.

Physicians should keep an open mind on complementary health care, Congress says.

Three hundred physicians from Canada and abroad attended the 3rd World Congress of Medical Acupuncture and Natural Medicine held in Edmonton last summer. Speakers emphasized that physicians should view complementary health care services with an open mind and consider therapeutic options that may be used in addition to conventional medical therapy.

Nucleus removal in planned extracapsular cataract extraction. A new instrument.

A new technique of nucleus delivery is discussed. The plane between nucleus and cortex is defined and expanded under direct visualization using hydraulic dissection via a new instrument. The nucleus is irrigated out of the eye or the instrument can be directed into the already defined cleavage plane to effect mechanical extraction via the barb on its superior surface. This technique ensures minimal trauma to zonules and corneal endothelium and results in concomitant removal of a large quantity of cortical material, which simplifies the process of cortical cleanup.