What opthalmoscope should I buy for school?

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LuluLovesMe

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My school just sent an email saying that we are required to buy an opthalmoscope and that we will be using it for a class.

I know nothing about them. What's the cheapest model that is still good quality and will last me a long time?
 
I'm looking at the pocket models for oto/ophthalmoscopes. Around $400, so a good bit better than the $800 for the "nice" model. A few are floating around Amazon.
 
I'm looking at the pocket models for oto/ophthalmoscopes. Around $400, so a good bit better than the $800 for the "nice" model. A few are floating around Amazon.

Ugh so expensive. Which models are you looking at?
 
I bought a cheap crappy one from amazon for $130 my MS1 year (not WA) and it has served me just fine for my needs. I have basically never used it 3-4th year because everywhere has them on the wall. Most people in my class are trying to sell their expensive ones because they don't need them anymore. If you are planning on optho, get a good one. If you are planning on steering clear of the eyes like me, going cheap should be fine for you
 
Get the most inexpensive one you can find. You will rarely need your own. Once you're in clinic they have them on the wall for you to use...
 
I'm looking at the pocket models for oto/ophthalmoscopes. Around $400, so a good bit better than the $800 for the "nice" model. A few are floating around Amazon.
If you insist on buying a pocketscope set (which you shouldn't until upperclassmen confirm you must) there are nice military surplus sets for sale on ebay. I got one (IDK I just wanted one) for $125.
 
If you insist on buying a pocketscope set (which you shouldn't until upperclassmen confirm you must) there are nice military surplus sets for sale on ebay. I got one (IDK I just wanted one) for $125.
Thanks for the heads-up.
 
We did technically need one because in our intro to physical exam class we needed to pretend we could see a retina and be like "a yes, your retina looks quite retinal today Standardized Patient Jones. Keep up the good work." We would lose points if we didn't have it. If we had dead batteries and it didn't work we got points but we had to have it in hand. Mine was insanely cheap.
 
Opthalmoscopes are all fun and games until someone loses an eye.
 
Why do some schools require expensive equipment? My friend's school is requiring over $800 worth of equipment and will inspect it to make sure it meets requirements.
 
MS2s said that we needed it (or at least need to know someone who has one who won't need it at the same time).

I just got a Welch Allyn kit for $100 on ebay.
 
Get a coaxial NOT a pan-optic. The pan optic is "nicer" and "better" but honestly I've found the coaxial easier to use for things that you need to use it for in med school, and it's so much cheaper. Pan optics are also enormous. This is coming from someone who decided to get a pan optic and now regrets it and is jealous of everyone else's coaxials.
 
My school requires it but you will never use it past second year unless you really hate the cord attached ones on the wall. Unless you want scopes for your own personal use or something, buy a cheap ass knock off. The cheapest one you can buy as I have two welch allyn scopes collecting dust on my shelf.

But at least I got them for cheap (i assume they were stolen because the ebay poster didn't know what they were) from ebay so do that if you must have a good set.
 
This is generally true.

Only reason I bought a good one is that I plan to do a lot of aid work someday, so I figured it would be a good tool to have. I've actually gotten a lot of use out of it.

I have as well, and people love when you have one. However it's pretty expensive, the times you need are few and there is almost always one to borrow
 
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