Model newborn human eye and face manikin

1. A model newborn human eye, comprising:

a hemispherical-shaped, integrally molded top assembly comprising a visually transparent cornea portion surrounding a visually opaque sclera portion;

a hemispherical-shaped bottom assembly comprising a bowl-shaped substrate disposed therein;

a retinal layer comprising a two dimensional image of retinal vasculature disposed on said substrate;

wherein:

said top portion is attached to said bottom portion to define a posterior chamber;

said model newborn human eye is dimensioned for diagnosing Retinopathy of Prematurity (“ROP”) in premature infants.

2. The model newborn human eye of claim 1 , wherein:

said a retinal layer comprises a three dimensional image of retinal vasculature disposed on said substrate; and

said model newborn human eye is dimensioned for surgically treating Retinopathy of Prematurity (“ROP”) in premature infants.

3. The model newborn human eye of claim 1 , wherein:

said a retinal layer is formed to include a subsurface fluid cavity therein; and

said model newborn human eye is dimensioned for practicing optical coherence tomography to locate and photograph said subsurface fluid cavity.

4. A method to practice diagnosis and treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity (“ROP”) in premature infants, comprising:

providing a model newborn human eye dimensioned to mimic an average newborn human eye and comprising a hemispherical-shaped, integrally molded top assembly comprising a visually transparent cornea portion surrounding a visually opaque sclera portion, a hemispherical-shaped bottom assembly comprising a bowl-shaped substrate disposed therein, and a retinal layer disposed on said substrate and comprising retinal vasculature;

providing a newborn face manikin formed to mimic a newborn/neonatal human face comprising a raised, face-mimicking structure comprising an eye socket extending there through;

releaseably disposing said model newborn human eye in said eye socket such that said cornea portion extends outwardly from said eye socket.

placing a hand held camera on the cornea interfaced with an ophthalmic lubricant; and

scanning said retinal vasculature for abnormal blood vessels.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising performing a peripheral retinal ablation using a solid state laser photocoagulation device to destroy avascular portions of the periphery of the retinal layer.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising inserting a probe to briefly touch and freeze spots on said retinal vasculature.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein said top portion and said bottom portion define a posterior chamber, and wherein said posterior chamber is filled with a vitreous gel, comprising:

removing said vitreous gel;

peeling back scar tissue on said retinal layer.

8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

placing a silicone band around said model newborn human eye;

tightening said silicone band; and

causing the sclera to buckle towards said retinal layer.

9. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

determining if retinal hemorrhaging can be observed;

when retinal hemorrhaging is observed, determining if said retinal hemorrhaging is bilateral;

when said retinal hemorrhaging is bilateral, determining if flame-shaped hemorrhages can be observed;

when flame-shaped hemorrhages can be observed, determining that child abuse should be highly suspect.

10. A method to practice Optical Coherence Tomography (“OCT”) to obtain surface and subsurface images of the retina, comprising:

providing a model newborn human eye dimensioned to mimic an average newborn human eye and comprising a hemispherical-shaped, integrally molded top assembly comprising a visually transparent cornea portion surrounding a visually opaque sclera portion, a hemispherical-shaped bottom assembly comprising a bowl-shaped substrate disposed therein, and a retinal layer comprising a three dimensional retinal vasculature disposed on said substrate;

directing an optical beam at the retinal layer;

using interferometry record an optical path length of received photons;

collecting light directly reflected from retinal layer surfaces.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said retinal layer is formed to include a subsurface fluid cavity formed therein, comprising imaging 1 to 2 mm below a surface of said retinal layer to image said subsurface fluid cavity.