Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To create and test interactive 3D computer animation software that significantly improves the quality and clarity of the demonstration of complex ophthalmological subjects. Methods: Using various high–end animation and multimedia programming packages, we created interactive 3D teaching software demonstrating the neuroopthalmological basics of the human oculomotor system, and complex new retinal surgery techniques. In order to test the effectiveness of the created software, lectures were held at the University of Vienna using the created software. After the lectures, the students received multiple choice exams and survey sheets. The results of these multiple choice exams and surveys were compared to the results of control lectures that had taught exactly the same subject with conventional teaching methods. Results: The results from the surveys and the multiple choice exams show that both lecture groups were seen by the students to be very clear and of high quality. The students that were taught using the program answered 80%±18% of the questions completely correctly. The students that were taught using the conventional lecture method answered 63%±18% of the questions completely correctly. The difference between the two groups was 17%±5 %. The students t–test arrived at a value of t=3.06 (t40;0,01=2.021). The P–value was 0.004. The 95% confidence interval of the difference between the two results was between 6% and 28%. These results show that the conventional lecture type can be accepted as a good control and that the 3D computer animation software demonstrated the subject matter significantly better than the conventional lecture type. Conclusions: 3D computer animation technologies offer a great advantage in demonstrating complex medical subjects, and should be increasingly employed for teaching students complex subject matter, and showing doctors new surgical techniques. We plan to make most of the animations that were created freely available on the internet in order to further this goal. Fig 1. Screenshots of animations about subretinal surgery, radial optic neurotomy, and the oculomotor system.
Keywords: extraocular muscles: structure • eye movements • neuro–ophthalmology: cortical function/rehabilitation