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the size of the tumors and indications for treatment would have been desirable. Section VII, one on the carbon dioxide laser, includes a short discussion by Ster ling Baker of the physics and effects of the carbon dioxide laser. Baker then presents a method of blepharoplasty with the car bon dioxide laser. Francis L'Espérance presents the technique and results of carbon dioxide laser in filtering surgery in 23 eyes with neovascular glaucoma. Also of interest was one eye with a malignant melanoma treated with vitrectomy and carbon dioxide laser therapy. In Section VIII, L'Espérance covers current and prospective uses of the dye laser, a potentially useful laser. The book has a glossary of laser terms and an interesting discussion of a number of laser topics by symposium participants conducted by C. P. Wilkinson. I was, however, annoyed by misspelled words throughout the book. Although not a comprehensive text, this book contains much useful information about a timely topic in ophthalmology by a distinguished group of pioneers and leaders in laser therapy. Complications in Ophthalmic Surgery. Edited by Nicholas Iliff. New York, Churchill Livingstone, 1983. Hard cover, 530 pages, index, illustrated. $60 Reviewed by F. T. FRAUNFELDER
Portland,
Oregon
The editor of this excellent text has assembled a group of recognized experts in the various subspecialties of ophthal mic surgery to provide an up-to-date, comprehensive, practical reference for the ophthalmic surgeon. The strong point of this book is the list of contributors, 31 in number, who have a wealth of knowl edge on surgical techniques, methods of
AUGUST, 1984
avoiding complications, and concise de scriptions of what to do if complications do occur. Most chapters include a discus sion of the details of the procedure that minimize chances of complications. Each author is allowed to present his material in whatever method best suits the sub ject, so that the quality of the photo graphs and drawings varies from chapter to chapter. However, the overall stan dard is high. The book has a complete index, with adquate references following each chapter. This is a practical, up-todate text on complications in ophthalmic surgery, designed to be on the desk of any ophthalmic surgeon.
Color and Fluorescein Angiographie Atlas of Retinal Vascular Disorders. By David Orth. Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins, 1984. 411 pages, index, illustrated. $175
Reviewed by THOMAS C. BURTON
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin
Color fundus photographs are an ap pealing ornament to any ophthalmology text, and in this book they add a useful clinical dimension to the author's collec tion of fluorescein angiograms. The format of this book is unusual and potentially useful: each chapter is built around the differential diagnosis of a reti nal vascular abnormality. This means, however, that the discussion of a single disease entity is sometimes widely scat tered throughout the text. Diabetic retinopathy is an obvious example; its mani festations are referenced in 25 separate locations in the book. The work of the medical artist is clear and graphically pleasing. Regrettably, several errors have found their way into the illustrations. These include the ap pearance of the short posterior ciliary
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BOOK REVIEWS
veins, the xanthophyll pigment located external to the outer nuclear layer, and the peripheral retina shown as being more pale than the posterior retina in the case of central retinal artery occlusion. Occasionally an illustration and its photo graph do not match: for example, a salm on patch is drawn as a white-centered intraretinal hemorrhage, whereas the as sociated photograph clearly indicates a preretinal hemorrhage. This book was designed to be repre sentative of the retinal vascular disorders encountered in everyday practice; it is addressed to the clinician, the resident, and the fellow, and there are indeed many outstanding cases illustrated. How ever, I am disappointed that the termi nology and the pathogenetic mechanisms are not always clearly defined. A book like this is most useful when it conveys to the reader the best available understand ing of the pathology involved. Ophthalmology. A Clinical Introduction. By John W. Gittinger, Jr. Boston, Little Brown and Company, 1984. Softcover, 267 pages, index, illustrated. $18.95
Reviewed by JOHN F. PURCELL, JR.
St. Louis,
Missouri
The author wrote this book for medical students and physicians as a clinical intro duction to ophthalmology. He has suc ceeded admirably. The text is concise, current, and well illustrated, and there are discussions of related clinical topics at the end of each chapter. At times the text is detailed and direct ed more to the ophthalmologist than to the medical student, but it gives the physician a good overview of current medical and surgical techniques. I would object only that hyphema rebleeds are not "usually" treated surgically and that
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suppression amblyopia is not treated by patching the amblyopic eye. Some draw ings of corneal disorders are rather sche matic and photographs would have been better. Overall, however, the illustra tions are excellent. The author is a neuro-ophthalmologist and there are clear explanations of poten tially confusing topics. The chapters on neuro-ophthalmology and on the eye and systemic disease are excellent reviews. Many gems of practical clinical advice are scattered throughout the text. Refer ences are provided for further reading. This is an excellent book and residents will find it a fine introduction and oph thalmologists a refreshing review. Animal Models of Ocular Diseases. Edit ed by Khalid F. Tabbara and Robert M. Cello. Springfield, Charles C Thomas, 1984. 285 p p , index, illustrated. $39.75.
Reviewed by HENRY F. EDELHAUSER
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin
This book is t h e fourth publication from the Alta California Eye Research Foundation summarizing a symposium on animal models of ocular disease. The text has a special chapter on the selection of animal models for scientific investigation written by Joseph Spinelli, D.V.M., Di rector of the Vivarium at the University of California at San Francisco. This chapter in particular is important for all investiga tors in eye research to read. The book is then divided into four major areas of animal models: Section I covers infectious diseases, dealing with herpetic keratitis, chlamydial conjuncti vitis, ocular toxoplasmosis, bacterial endophthalmitis, ocular listeriosis, and cor neal ulcers; Section II covers neoplastic diseases such as the ocular findings in