Book Review

Basic Ophthalmology

N Engl J Med 1997; 336:1618May 29, 1997

Article

Basic Ophthalmology
CD-ROM, with manual, 9 pp. By Thomas A. Farrell and colleagues. System needed: Multimedia IBM PC or compatible computer, with at least 4 MB RAM. (Also available for Macintosh system 7.0 and at least 4 MB RAM.) St. Louis, Mosby, 1996. $59.95 (single user). Multi-user license available. ISBN: 0-7234-2336-9 (Windows); 0-7234-2239-3 (Macintosh).

There are several reasons why medical students are only marginally exposed to information about diseases of the eye. Among them are the fact that the ophthalmology rotation usually lasts only two to three weeks at the most and the difficulty of mastering the basic techniques of examination (e.g., slit-lamp and indirect ophthalmoscopy). Many medical practitioners will admit that besides this rotation, the only encounter with eye diseases they recall during medical school was at the board exams. Only later did they realize that a substantial number of primary care patients complain about eye conditions. It is from this starting point that we set out to review a new self-study CD-ROM that exposes the user to the basics of ophthalmic concepts and practice.

This comprehensive course was designed primarily for the nonophthalmologist, highlighting mainly primary care issues. It covers eight topics: anatomy, vision, visual loss, glaucoma, red eye, trauma, strabismus, and neuro-ophthalmology. The estimated time for completing the entire course is approximately 10 to 12 hours.

One useful feature of the package is a toggle on–off graphic overlay of superimposed arrows and other graphics pointing to relevant portions of the photographs. The user can zoom in on many of the illustrations and still images on screen. An on-line glossary contains definitions of 275 terms, most of them accompanied by a photograph or drawing. The glossary can be browsed at any point during the course, and the user can then return to the original point in the course. In addition to photographs and illustrations, there are diagrams, flow charts, and 30 color animations and video clips that contribute to a better understanding of the subject. Also scattered throughout the course are self-assessment questions, quizzes, and interactive case studies. One minor drawback of the package is the somewhat reduced resolution of the color photographs, but they are nevertheless useful and illuminating.

We found this CD-ROM tutorial, which does not assume any previous computer knowledge, to be user-friendly and inexpensive. The package performs well even on a 486 PC, with only a double-speed CD-ROM drive. We feel that medical students, especially those rotating through the ophthalmology department, will find this CD course both rewarding and enjoyable. We highly recommend that ophthalmology departments consider incorporating self-study sessions or home assignments based on this CD-ROM into medical students' curriculum.

Eytan Z. Blumenthal, M.D.
Jacob Pe'er, M.D.
Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem 91120, Israel