Information about age-related macular degeneration on the Internet.
BACKGROUND
A great deal of health information has become available on the Internet over the past several years. Some of this information is inaccurate or misleading to patients. We attempted to determine the accuracy of information on the Internet concerning age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).


METHODS
The term "macular degeneration" was entered in each of seven Internet search engines, and the subsequent links were followed and categorized. The number of sites that discussed treatment inconsistent with the peer-reviewed standard of care for ARMD was tabulated.


RESULTS
Of the 80 unique sites regarding ARMD that we identified, 17 (21%) featured nonconventional information.


CONCLUSIONS
Many Internet sites feature unproven and costly nonconventional information about ARMD. Each physician should be prepared to address these sites and to suggest reliable sites concerning health information on the Internet.
Stone
T W
TW
Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Eye Center, Durham NC, USA.
Jumper
J M
JM
D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000592:standards*; D020407:Internet / Q000592:standards*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018024:Peer Review, Health Care; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic