Pearls in Ophthalmology - First publication dedicated to ophthalmology residents

http://www.medrounds.org/ophthalmology-pearls/

The Pearls in Ophthalmology Newsletter was created to provide an electronic publication for students, residents, fellows, and new graduates. As editor, my goal is to assemble articles that will be of interest to members-in-training and young ophthalmologists. Articles will be written by ophthalmology faculty, residents, fellows, and practicing ophthalmologists.

Future topics will deal with pearls during training, how to prepare for residency and fellowship, how to apply for sub-specialty training, pearls for private practice, and more. We encourage our readers to submit articles that may benefit others. We will also publish case presentations. Please review the guidelines for case presentations (link).

The Internet allows the delivery of content in all forms of media. Similar to why television programs are “free”, we believe high quality educational materials should also be accessible and “free” for those who seek to learn. In order to provide you with high quality educational materials, we seek the support of advertisers. Our corporate sponsors, however, do not influence the editorial content of our educational materials. We encourage you to visit our sponsors’ websites to show your support of the MedRounds’ educational mission and learn about their services and products.

I encourage you to forward the newsletter to your colleagues and to contribute articles by e-mailing me: adoan@medrounds.org

We are excited to offer this publication.

Andrew Doan, MD, PhD

Editor-In-Chief

Comprehensive Ophthalmology & Ocular Pathology

Net Neutrality and How It Affects You

The popularity and success of the Internet is due to the fact that no matter how small, or big, a company is, people have equal access to Internet sites. This freedom increases competition, quality, and diversity of content. Personally, I enjoy accessing content that I want, when I want without interference from major companies. Would you like the phone and cable companies influencing what you can see and read on the Internet? Net neutrality addresses this issue.

We are experiencing a major shift in publishing modality with the growth of the Internet. The Gutenberg press allowed mass printing of books and facilitated the education of the masses. Radio allowed the working class to experience opera, music, and entertainment once accessible only to the wealthy. Television brought motion pictures into peoples’ homes. With the Internet, text, audio, and movies are being broadcasted around the world. The Internet is the new broadcasting modality in the 21st Century with incredible potential to enhance the way we learn, play, and do business.

Unfortunately, the Internet as we know it is facing a serious threat. There is discussion by law makers in Washington, D.C. on the concept of “net neutrality". The House of Representatives is voting on a bill that would fundamentally alter the Internet. That bill, and one that may come up for a key vote in the Senate, would give the big phone and cable companies the power to pick and choose what you will be able to see and do on the Internet.

According to Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, “Today the Internet is an information highway where anybody – no matter how large or small, how traditional or unconventional – has equal access. But the phone and cable monopolies, who control almost all Internet access, want the power to choose who gets access to high-speed lanes and whose content gets seen first and fastest. They want to build a two-tiered system and block the on-ramps for those who can't pay.”

The decision to abolish net neutrality will be counter-productive to the advancement of education, our economy, and business development. Internet access in other countries, for instance, already surpasses the access available in the United States in regards to speed and service. Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, states: “The neutral communications medium is essential to our society. It is the basis of a fair competitive market economy. It is the basis of democracy, by which a community should decide what to do. It is the basis of science, by which humankind should decide what is true. Let us protect the neutrality of the net."

The outcome of net neutrality will have great impact on the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), a non-profit organization dedicated to ophthalmic education. In a world where publishers must pay to have their materials viewed by consumers, the AAO, small businesses, and non-profit organizations will be at a great disadvantage. You may call your representative at 202-224-3121 and let your voice be heard.

For more information, go to: http://www.google.com/help/netneutrality.html

Todd Zarwell, OD, FAAO

Dr. Todd Zarwell is an optometrist practicing in Madison, Wisconsin. He graduated from Ripon College and earned his doctorate from the Illinois College of Optometry, where he was a member of the Gold Key Optometric Honor Society and was awarded the Colleague of the Year award by his graduating class. After leaving ICO he completed a post-doctoral fellowship in refractive surgery comanagement and anterior segment disease at Davis Duehr Dean Eye Care Specialists. Dr. Zarwell is an adjunct clinical professor at the Illinois College of Optometry. He is a fellow of the the American Academy of Optometry, and a member of the American Optometric Association and Wisconsin Optometric Association.

Dr. Zarwell is the author of the Refraction & Retinoscopy Simulator.