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Symposium on Ocular Therapy, vol. 8
VOL. 81, NO. 6
BOOK REVIEWS
cies, written by Stowers, is included. For the research investigator, the chapter on the biochemistry of the complications of diabetes mellitus, will prove constructive. However, the extensive studies in bio chemistry, in the past three years, would necessitate a major rewrite of this chapter to bring it u p to date. The ophthalmologist confronted by the visual problems of his patient frequently is unaware of the "social and emotional complications of diabetes." The section by Knibbs and Jackson provides a re freshing and instructive presentation of these problems and some of the British approaches to their management. Since the largest single portion of the monograph pertains to diabetic retinopathy, it can be recommended to the oph thalmologist and the serious research in vestigator working in the field of diabetic retinopathy and related retinal diseases. ARNALL PATZ
Symposium on Ocular Therapy, vol. 8. Edited by Irving H. Leopold and Rob ert P. Burns. Somerset, New Jersey, Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1976. Clothbound, 92 pages, table of contents, in dex, 7 black and white figures. $18 This is the eighth in a well-known ophthalmic series. It contains the material presented at a symposium held under the joint auspices of the Association for Re search in Vision and Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Ophthalmolo gy and Otolaryngology in Dallas, Texas, in October 1974, immediately preceding the annual meeting of the Academy. As with past volumes, this one makes no attempt to provide encylopedic coverage of ocular pharmacology. Rather, ten se lected topics in ocular therapeutics are discussed. Much of the material pertains directly to the treatment of clinical
857
disease while some of it reports the find ings of experimental studies. Virtually all of the material is highly relevant to the understanding and management of hu man ocular disorders. Topics discussed include: (1) toxicity of topical eye medications in childhood strabismus (Apt and associates); (2) immunosuppressive therapy in ophthal mology (Burns and associates); (3) local anesthetics (Ellis); (4) corticosteroid mis use (Havner); (5) treatment of viral infec tions (Kaufman); (6) barriers to the ocular penetration of systemically administered drugs (Leiberman); (7) placebo therapy in ophthalmology (Newell); (8) management of bacterial corneal ulcers (Pettit); (9) adrenergic therapy of open-angle glauco ma (Sears); and (10) platelet aggregation in experimental diabetic retinopathy (March and associates). Each of the authors provides a succinct presentation of his topic that is easy and enjoyable to read. A selected bibliography follows each chapter and is an excellent source for those who wish to explore the topic in greater depth. The volume man ages to avoid a major problem often en countered in the publication of symposia, that is, lack of uniformity. The ten chap ters are of evenly high quality, presuma bly a reflection of the editors' good judg ment in their choice of contributors. The editors state in their preface that "the symposium and the text were planned in an effort to present current information useful to the ophthalmolo gist." It was their goal to produce a text that contained "selective data pared from the plethora of material available in the field and arranged in such a manner that the ophthalmologist may read rapidly those data of importance to him in the management of his patients and in an understanding of the disease processes involved." These objectives have been met in an admirable fashion. H O W A R D M. L E I B O W I T Z
BOOK REVIEWS
cies, written by Stowers, is included. For the research investigator, the chapter on the biochemistry of the complications of diabetes mellitus, will prove constructive. However, the extensive studies in bio chemistry, in the past three years, would necessitate a major rewrite of this chapter to bring it u p to date. The ophthalmologist confronted by the visual problems of his patient frequently is unaware of the "social and emotional complications of diabetes." The section by Knibbs and Jackson provides a re freshing and instructive presentation of these problems and some of the British approaches to their management. Since the largest single portion of the monograph pertains to diabetic retinopathy, it can be recommended to the oph thalmologist and the serious research in vestigator working in the field of diabetic retinopathy and related retinal diseases. ARNALL PATZ
Symposium on Ocular Therapy, vol. 8. Edited by Irving H. Leopold and Rob ert P. Burns. Somerset, New Jersey, Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1976. Clothbound, 92 pages, table of contents, in dex, 7 black and white figures. $18 This is the eighth in a well-known ophthalmic series. It contains the material presented at a symposium held under the joint auspices of the Association for Re search in Vision and Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Ophthalmolo gy and Otolaryngology in Dallas, Texas, in October 1974, immediately preceding the annual meeting of the Academy. As with past volumes, this one makes no attempt to provide encylopedic coverage of ocular pharmacology. Rather, ten se lected topics in ocular therapeutics are discussed. Much of the material pertains directly to the treatment of clinical
857
disease while some of it reports the find ings of experimental studies. Virtually all of the material is highly relevant to the understanding and management of hu man ocular disorders. Topics discussed include: (1) toxicity of topical eye medications in childhood strabismus (Apt and associates); (2) immunosuppressive therapy in ophthal mology (Burns and associates); (3) local anesthetics (Ellis); (4) corticosteroid mis use (Havner); (5) treatment of viral infec tions (Kaufman); (6) barriers to the ocular penetration of systemically administered drugs (Leiberman); (7) placebo therapy in ophthalmology (Newell); (8) management of bacterial corneal ulcers (Pettit); (9) adrenergic therapy of open-angle glauco ma (Sears); and (10) platelet aggregation in experimental diabetic retinopathy (March and associates). Each of the authors provides a succinct presentation of his topic that is easy and enjoyable to read. A selected bibliography follows each chapter and is an excellent source for those who wish to explore the topic in greater depth. The volume man ages to avoid a major problem often en countered in the publication of symposia, that is, lack of uniformity. The ten chap ters are of evenly high quality, presuma bly a reflection of the editors' good judg ment in their choice of contributors. The editors state in their preface that "the symposium and the text were planned in an effort to present current information useful to the ophthalmolo gist." It was their goal to produce a text that contained "selective data pared from the plethora of material available in the field and arranged in such a manner that the ophthalmologist may read rapidly those data of importance to him in the management of his patients and in an understanding of the disease processes involved." These objectives have been met in an admirable fashion. H O W A R D M. L E I B O W I T Z