INTERNET RESOURCES FOR OPHTHALMOLOGY

Background In the age of information, the Internet became a powerful, fast and international information resource. The ease with which indiv iduals can access the Internet and with which institutions can make in formation available explains its exponential growth in the past few ye ars. It is our purpose to provide ophthalmologists with new opportunit ies and to explore the potential and different functions for the infor mation superhighway with a focus on information resources available to the ophthalmologist like the World Wide Web. Results By using the com puter programme Netscape one can send or obtain reports or images, con sult colleagues, perform a literature search, take part in an ophthalm ological congress or discussion- and newsgroup, get information about past and ongoing ophthalmological events or, moreover, achieve product and company information. Conclusion The Internet transformed the way we view and use information by a dramatic expansion of the ways ophtha lmologists interact with their colleagues. Thereby, the use of the Int ernet and its vast resources will greatly improve the quality of patie nt care.