Social media and ophthalmology: A review

Social media is being widely used across ophthalmology. Its communication tools have been employed more often by ophthalmologists in private practice than academia, although academic institutions may be more impactful influencers. There are opportunities to promote ophthalmic services and to augment traditional clinical care. Social media provides a medium to disseminate peer-reviewed literature in ophthalmology, and to expand conference experiences. It is used for teaching ophthalmology at medical schools and attracting medical students into ophthalmology training, and for research in ophthalmology. Important considerations when using social media include the required time commitment and the public nature of interactions. The high level of misinformation in medical social media remains a challenge for both ophthalmologists and their patients, and the ophthalmologist can play an active role in addressing the issue. This review considers the role that social media is playing in ophthalmology today, including impact on ophthalmic practice, applications in ophthalmic education and training, and patient-focused networking.