Medical undergraduates from the National University of Singapore (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine undergo training in various eye units across Singapore. This programme is coordinated by the NUS Department of Ophthalmology. It lasts 24 weeks, consisting of 12 postings usually held in the first semester of the academic year. For the 4th year medical students posted to our department, each posting comprises two weeks of intensive coursework.
Since 2002, the undergraduate teaching programme has adopted a clinically oriented approach, using a problem-oriented and evidence-based method for addressing common ophthalmic presentations and relevant eye disorders in general medicine. This approach is continually refined and adapted to ensure optimal exposure and knowledge transfer to undergraduates.
In their second year, students are instructed in the use of the direct ophthalmoscope to detect and diagnose common medical disorders such as diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy and to identify more serious conditions like papilloedema (swollen optic nerves from high intracranial pressure).
During the third and four years of undergraduate training, students participate in a two-week clinical ophthalmology programme at the NUH Eye Surgery Centre. In this period, they receive instruction and supervision from by a diverse and dedicated pool of eye specialists. The programme also includes a series of interactive tutorials and clinical sessions on problem-oriented approaches to important eye conditions. Students also gain exposure to general & subspecialty ophthalmology clinics, wards and operating theatres to hone their clinical skills. The assessment of medical students is based on a case study (50%), multiple-choice questions (25%) and a slide quiz (25%), contributing to the final mark at the Final Professional Examination in Medicine.
Ongoing Improvements to the Teaching curriculum
Annually, the department conducts a comprehensive review and revision of the two-week clinical attachment programme and teaching modules in Ophthalmology. Medical undergraduate coordinators are appointed in each institution (NUH, Singapore National Eye Centre and Tan Tock Seng Hospital) to facilitate and assist in the coordination of the teaching programme.
