AIM: To explore the application feasibility of problem-based learning(PBL)teaching mode in ophthalmology class in medical colleges of China.

METHODS: Totally 157 students of class 2009 in Yangtze University majoring in clinical medicine were surveyed by questionnaires.

RESULTS: The survey showed that 77.9% of students thought that traditional teaching methods of ophthalmology classes were quite satisfying. 82.8% of them considered it necessary to introduce the new teaching mode. 83.4% of them would choose PBL teaching mode between the traditional teaching mode and PBL teaching mode. 56.6% of them thought that PBL teaching mode was conducive to students' self-learning ability. The subjective and objective conditions made the exploration of PBL teaching modes feasible. However, there were disadvantages of PBL teaching mode. 73.1% of students thought the school teaching facilities were not enough, 78.6% of students thought that only part of the content of ophthalmology teaching was suitable for using PBL teaching mode.

CONCLUSION: PBL teaching mode should be continuously explored and studied in the future ophthalmology teaching, in order to create suitable for China's national conditions of ophthalmology teaching mode.