Using a model to understand the symptoms of ophthalmoplegia

When the term muscular paralysis is used, most people will think of large muscle groups such as the upper and lower limbs or life-dependent muscles such as the diaphragm. However, the extrinsic extraocular muscles can also succumb to paralysis (whether partial or otherwise). Ophthalmoplegia can arise from a number of neural conditions, and in conjunction with the complex anatomy of the ocular orbit, it can be difficult to teach such syndromes. The range of existing physical models for the eye are limited in their functional ability, prohibiting the understanding of the structure and its function especially with regards to muscles. Only one eye model has been developed which is tangible and functional by design in relation to rotational movements (Williams, 1965). The aim of this study was to ultimately build a modern version of Williams’ model and via means of a Likert-type, cross-sectional questionnaire, determine the model’s capacity to assist students in learning the function and anatomy of the extrinsic muscles of the eye. This foundational knowledge could then be transferred to better understand the internal causes of the visible symptoms of ophthalmoparesis and ophthalmoplegia. In much the same way that different diagnostic scans are used to observe different bodily materials, functional models may not necessarily replace the range of anatomical resources which exist, but it is hoped that models such as this will instead provide insight into an alternative aspect of anatomical learning which is yet to be considered