RedAtlas.org is a highly interconnected, visual atlas of Ophthalmic diseases. It is inherently a photographic atlas with little text accompanying the images. This allows viewers to use their own textbooks as factual references – or simply to browse through the images. In addition, it more closely simulates clinical learning since topics are presented here visually - as they are in the clinical setting. The visual stimulus then stimulates the user to learn about this subject matter instead of reading about conceptually-related topics (e.g. macular diseases) that are quite different in appearance. Its presence on the Internet affords many advantages. First, the images can be indexed and accessed in many different ways - by disease, by clinical finding, or by categories such as 'White Dot Syndromes.' Second, the images themselves can be described and re-indexed by their individual findings (such as 'cotton wool spots') - something a printed text cannot do. Thirdly, they are linked by related and differential diagnoses - allowing the user to review related images easily. An additional learning tool included in RedAtlas.org is our 'Quiz' section which presents the user with unlabelled images (the quiz) from the requested specialty area followed by images containing both the diagnosis and clinical information (the answer). In addition, links to PubMed searches for each disease being viewed can be accessed from a link at the bottom of most pages. Finally, we have an advantage over printed atlases because we have nearly “unlimited” space to provide examples of each disease. We do not aim to provide only ideal, textbook-worthy cases. We show common clinical presentations that Ophthalmologists are likely to see in day-to-day practice. The images are available in medium and high resolutions for use in lectures and PowerPoint™ presentations (Please read our usage policy). These images are intended for personal use only and should not be reproduced in written publications or used for monetary gain. They have been donated by leaders in the respective fields as teaching aids. In addition, we make no claims as to their accuracy. (Please read our disclaimer) We have taken a great deal of time to proofread the diagnoses. But, because of the sheer size of website, we cannot verify that each image is accurately associated with the appropriate diagnosis. The information contained in this website should be used for educational purposes only. It cannot substitute for clinical exam skills and should not be used in the diagnosis or treatment of any Ophthalmic or systemic diseases.

"... to teach them this art if they so desire without fee or written promise ..."
               - Oath of the Aesclepiads (Hippocratic Oath)

We were fortunate enough to receive grants from the Lillian Spang Rath Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation as well as the Ronald Michels Foundation to support this project. Internet service is being provided by sponsoring institutions such as The Wilmer Eye Institute and The Doheny Eye Institute. This website is free-of-charge to everyone.

If you have slides that you would like to contribute to the RedAtlas, please email the Webmaster. The photos should be unpublished clinical images from the contributor's own patients. They will be scanned into high-resolution JPEG format and returned with a CD containing the electronic images to the contributor. Please contact the Webmaster for more information.

Slides were scanned using a Nikon Coolscan 4000ED with an SF-200 batch slide loader. This equipment was controlled by a Compaq Presario 7000t. The slides were edited and color-matched using a Logan ultra-thin light box. Proprietary database software was created to track the images and generate the HTML code for this website. A Dell™ web server is being used to supply static HTML pages for browsing.

This website is optimized for computer monitors displaying at least 800 by 600 pixels at 24 bit color (16.7 million colors). On a Windows-based computer, you may change your display settings by going to the Start menu and choosing Control Panel --> Display --> Settings. Make sure that your display resolution is set to at least 800 x 600 pixels at 24 bit color. If the images still look dark, then please see below.

These images were created usaing a gamma-corrected PC monitor and should appear correct on MacIntosh computers. Unfortunately, they may appear to be rather dark on some PC's. This is because the gamma setting for your monitor may be too dark. One way to correct this is to use Control Panel--> Display --> Settings --> Advanced to change the gamma value for your display adapter. You may also download images and modify their brightness with your own image processing software. For more information on this topic see this page or this page.

NO! Please do not use automated software to download images from this website. You cannot possibly need every image contained at RedAtlas.org and using these robots will simply bog down our small server. This will prevent others from fairly accessing these teaching images. Please contact us if you need all of the images for some special purpose.