ON THE NET
A place to point your patients for basic information on cataracts and refractive surgery.
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery

While the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) is primarily known as one of the leading professional organizations representing the interests of ophthalmologists, its Web site (www.ascrs.org) contains a great deal of useful educational information that's directed strictly toward patients and their families.

By logging on to the site and clicking on the icon for "eye care info," a patient or potential patient can access a wealth of educational information relating to cataracts, cataract surgery and refractive surgery.

In addition to an eyecare glossary, which explains most of the terms commonly used by ophthalmologists, the site provides answers to the most frequently asked questions about cataracts. A "Patients' Guide" to cataracts offers in-depth information about how cataracts form, their symptoms, how they're removed, and the outcomes that can be expected from cataract surgery.

Once an individual has absorbed all of this educational material, he can take the "Cataract Surgery Quiz," a 15-question true-or-false test that can immediately be self-scored.

Similar information is provided for refractive surgery, including an explanation of the various types of refractive surgery and what conditions they're used to correct. And there's also a 12-question "Refractive Surgery Quiz."

The ASCRS Web site also has a surgeon locator feature that can be easily accessed by clicking on the "Find A Surgeon" icon. Surgeons can be located by specifying geographic location and/or area of specialization.

Visit www.ascrs.org

If you've discovered a Web site or service that's been useful to you in practice or at home, we'd like to know about it. E-mail Jerry Helzner at helznergi@boucher1.com  or call him at (215) 643-8013.