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Diagnosis and Genetics of Defective Colour Vision
VOL. 62, NO. 1
BOOK REVIEWS
The writing—as one anticipates from the pen of the ex-chief editor of our distinguished sister journal—is exact and literate; the il lustrations are excellent. The book provides a superb summary of the common vascular lesions, degenerations, inflammations, poi sons and tumors likely to affect various areas of the eye and visual pathway. It seems likely to join the classic Neurology of the Ocular Muscles as a valuable teaching and reference work for not only ophthal mologists, but internists, neurologists, neurosurgeons and all those dealing with abnor malities of the eye and the central nervous system. Frank W. Newell THE
YEAR
BOOK
OF
OPHTHALMOLOGY
(1965-1966). Edited by William F. Hughes, M.D. Chicago, Year Book Medi cal Publishers, Inc., 1966. Clothbound, 400 pages, 72 figures in black and white, 28 tables, references, author and subject indexes. Price: $9.00. An innovation in the current Year Book of Ophthalmology is a foreword to most of the sections written by those with special knowledge in the respective fields. The con tributors include Ira Jones, Eugene Folk, Snydacker, Haas, Coles, Krill, Kearns, Potts, Snell and Shoch. In the selection of articles, the interests of the clinical ophthal mologist have been the criterion and the sec tion on the basic sciences covers only those articles that have clinical application or, in the words of the editor, represent a firm step forward. An exception in this issue are 15 papers from Investigative Ophthalmol ogy that deal with various phases of lenticu lar metabolism. Cryosurgery is an innovation that is cer tainly here to stay in contrast to the integrat ed implant and the Ridley acrylic lens. In the 1964-65 volume Hughes discussed "this exciting new instrumentation." Since then, surgeons using this technique agree that cataractous lenses of all types may be removed
177
intracapsularly with greater security by cryoextraction than by any other method. For this purpose, simple and inexpensive apparatuses utilizing carbon dioxide or Freon are adequate. For retinal detachment work, however, liquid nitrogen is essential for the sustained low temperature of —40°C neces sary to produce chorioretinal adhesions through full-thickness sclera. As one browses through the book, many useful or odd items attract attention, such as the Comberg-Worst method of localizing intraocular foreign bodies and the neurosurgical treatment of resistant blepharospasm by subcorticotomy of the motor center. The sparkling comment of Hughes in the fine print is invaluable in helping the reader dis tinguish the contributions of permanent merit. The plan of the book is admirable and the material contained is for the most part excellent. James E. Lebensohn
DIAGNOSIS
AND GENETICS
COLOUR VISION. By
H.
OF DEFECTIVE
Kalmus,
M.D.
London, England, Pergamon Press Ltd., 1965. Clothbound, 114 pages, 31 figures in black and white, 13 tables, bibliography, index. Price: $8.50. This book, by a geneticist with a special interest in color-vision problems, presents an adequate summary of the hereditary pat terns of the various congenital partial colorvision defects. Except for tritanopia, which is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, all of the other defects are classified as sexlinked recessive. There is no mention of the genetics of total color blindness. Abnormalities in the carrier of protan defects are explained by the concept of incomplete autosomal domi nance. In view of recent work in this area, a more complete and up-to-date explanation of the heterozygote would be expected. The question of one or two loci for color-vision defect genes is presented as if a controversy still existed. Most workers feel that the data
178
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
can only be explained by two loci, and the evidence presented in this book supports this notion; however, the author makes no definite statement. Rod-monochromatism is explained by the presence of blue-sensitive cones only and some degree of macular degeneration. But such a discussion is incomplete because it ignores three histologic reports existing in the literature. Furthermore, a pertinent ad dition to this section would have been a pre sentation of the evidence, both psychophysical and genetic, supporting the notion of two kinds of total color blindness (one of which may have normal blue cones). In one section of the book the mode of inheritance of ocular albinism is inaccurate ly classified as autosomal recessive; how ever, in a table elsewhere it is correctly listed as sex-linked recessive. The author states that only half of the autosomal reces sive albinos show ocular symptoms but the source of the statistics is not identified. The brief discussion of night blindness leaves one with the impression that all of these patients are blue-blind, which is not confirmed by the literature. Also, the author mentions the possible role of rods in blue perception, a concept now out dated. The discussion of pigment abnormalities in partial color vision defects is not com pletely correct. "Deutans most certainly do not lack the normals' green absorbing pig ment. . . . It is, however, possible that the R and G cones of deutans are perfectly nor mal, but that the wires are mixed up." It is not surprising that the author goes back to the abandoned "branched pathway hypothe sis" of Walls as an explanation for the var ious partial color defects. Some of the author's concepts on colorvision testing disagree with what most other workers believe. Particularly disturbing is the assertion that, under certain conditions, controlled illumination for testing with the pseudoisochromatic plates is not necessary " . . . for genetical purposes chart readings in the open either in the shade or under an
JULY, 1966
overcast sky will seldom be misleading; nor will be reading in a room where the subject has its back to a north window (in the Northern Hemisphere)." This book is recommended only as a re view of the inheritance patterns of partial color-vision defects. Alex E. Krill By Paul Howard McGuff, M.D. Springfield, Illi nois. Charles C Thomas, 1966. Clothbound, 200 pages, 29 figures in black and white, 56 tables, 1 graph, 3 appendices, bibliography, index. Price: $10.50. The author's stated purpose, which is adequately realized in this monograph, is to present "the surgical applications of laser with reference to the application of laser to the treatment of malignancy and specifically, malignant tumors." As an added fillip there is a brief history of cancer and the theory and pragmatic aspects of laser are dis cussed. The author describes his work in the treatment of experimental human malignant tumors transplanted to the cheek pouch of the hamster and compares the results of laser therapy with that of X-rays. Striking results in tumor destruction by laser are re ported. The author feels that the modus operandi of laser action in obliterating such tumors is probably not thermal in character but comes about as a result of some esoteric effect not fully understood. Various possi bilities are suggested. A comprehensive re view of pertinent laser literature in the var ious medical disciplines follows. The review section is really a resume of papers given by various authors at laser conferences through 1964. SURGICAL APPLICATIONS OF LASER.
This monograph includes material which may interest the occasional research oph thalmologist but holds little interest for the practicing ophthalmologist. Its one great virtue lies in the fact that it has a relatively comprehensive bibliography which carries the literature pretty well through the year
BOOK REVIEWS
The writing—as one anticipates from the pen of the ex-chief editor of our distinguished sister journal—is exact and literate; the il lustrations are excellent. The book provides a superb summary of the common vascular lesions, degenerations, inflammations, poi sons and tumors likely to affect various areas of the eye and visual pathway. It seems likely to join the classic Neurology of the Ocular Muscles as a valuable teaching and reference work for not only ophthal mologists, but internists, neurologists, neurosurgeons and all those dealing with abnor malities of the eye and the central nervous system. Frank W. Newell THE
YEAR
BOOK
OF
OPHTHALMOLOGY
(1965-1966). Edited by William F. Hughes, M.D. Chicago, Year Book Medi cal Publishers, Inc., 1966. Clothbound, 400 pages, 72 figures in black and white, 28 tables, references, author and subject indexes. Price: $9.00. An innovation in the current Year Book of Ophthalmology is a foreword to most of the sections written by those with special knowledge in the respective fields. The con tributors include Ira Jones, Eugene Folk, Snydacker, Haas, Coles, Krill, Kearns, Potts, Snell and Shoch. In the selection of articles, the interests of the clinical ophthal mologist have been the criterion and the sec tion on the basic sciences covers only those articles that have clinical application or, in the words of the editor, represent a firm step forward. An exception in this issue are 15 papers from Investigative Ophthalmol ogy that deal with various phases of lenticu lar metabolism. Cryosurgery is an innovation that is cer tainly here to stay in contrast to the integrat ed implant and the Ridley acrylic lens. In the 1964-65 volume Hughes discussed "this exciting new instrumentation." Since then, surgeons using this technique agree that cataractous lenses of all types may be removed
177
intracapsularly with greater security by cryoextraction than by any other method. For this purpose, simple and inexpensive apparatuses utilizing carbon dioxide or Freon are adequate. For retinal detachment work, however, liquid nitrogen is essential for the sustained low temperature of —40°C neces sary to produce chorioretinal adhesions through full-thickness sclera. As one browses through the book, many useful or odd items attract attention, such as the Comberg-Worst method of localizing intraocular foreign bodies and the neurosurgical treatment of resistant blepharospasm by subcorticotomy of the motor center. The sparkling comment of Hughes in the fine print is invaluable in helping the reader dis tinguish the contributions of permanent merit. The plan of the book is admirable and the material contained is for the most part excellent. James E. Lebensohn
DIAGNOSIS
AND GENETICS
COLOUR VISION. By
H.
OF DEFECTIVE
Kalmus,
M.D.
London, England, Pergamon Press Ltd., 1965. Clothbound, 114 pages, 31 figures in black and white, 13 tables, bibliography, index. Price: $8.50. This book, by a geneticist with a special interest in color-vision problems, presents an adequate summary of the hereditary pat terns of the various congenital partial colorvision defects. Except for tritanopia, which is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, all of the other defects are classified as sexlinked recessive. There is no mention of the genetics of total color blindness. Abnormalities in the carrier of protan defects are explained by the concept of incomplete autosomal domi nance. In view of recent work in this area, a more complete and up-to-date explanation of the heterozygote would be expected. The question of one or two loci for color-vision defect genes is presented as if a controversy still existed. Most workers feel that the data
178
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
can only be explained by two loci, and the evidence presented in this book supports this notion; however, the author makes no definite statement. Rod-monochromatism is explained by the presence of blue-sensitive cones only and some degree of macular degeneration. But such a discussion is incomplete because it ignores three histologic reports existing in the literature. Furthermore, a pertinent ad dition to this section would have been a pre sentation of the evidence, both psychophysical and genetic, supporting the notion of two kinds of total color blindness (one of which may have normal blue cones). In one section of the book the mode of inheritance of ocular albinism is inaccurate ly classified as autosomal recessive; how ever, in a table elsewhere it is correctly listed as sex-linked recessive. The author states that only half of the autosomal reces sive albinos show ocular symptoms but the source of the statistics is not identified. The brief discussion of night blindness leaves one with the impression that all of these patients are blue-blind, which is not confirmed by the literature. Also, the author mentions the possible role of rods in blue perception, a concept now out dated. The discussion of pigment abnormalities in partial color vision defects is not com pletely correct. "Deutans most certainly do not lack the normals' green absorbing pig ment. . . . It is, however, possible that the R and G cones of deutans are perfectly nor mal, but that the wires are mixed up." It is not surprising that the author goes back to the abandoned "branched pathway hypothe sis" of Walls as an explanation for the var ious partial color defects. Some of the author's concepts on colorvision testing disagree with what most other workers believe. Particularly disturbing is the assertion that, under certain conditions, controlled illumination for testing with the pseudoisochromatic plates is not necessary " . . . for genetical purposes chart readings in the open either in the shade or under an
JULY, 1966
overcast sky will seldom be misleading; nor will be reading in a room where the subject has its back to a north window (in the Northern Hemisphere)." This book is recommended only as a re view of the inheritance patterns of partial color-vision defects. Alex E. Krill By Paul Howard McGuff, M.D. Springfield, Illi nois. Charles C Thomas, 1966. Clothbound, 200 pages, 29 figures in black and white, 56 tables, 1 graph, 3 appendices, bibliography, index. Price: $10.50. The author's stated purpose, which is adequately realized in this monograph, is to present "the surgical applications of laser with reference to the application of laser to the treatment of malignancy and specifically, malignant tumors." As an added fillip there is a brief history of cancer and the theory and pragmatic aspects of laser are dis cussed. The author describes his work in the treatment of experimental human malignant tumors transplanted to the cheek pouch of the hamster and compares the results of laser therapy with that of X-rays. Striking results in tumor destruction by laser are re ported. The author feels that the modus operandi of laser action in obliterating such tumors is probably not thermal in character but comes about as a result of some esoteric effect not fully understood. Various possi bilities are suggested. A comprehensive re view of pertinent laser literature in the var ious medical disciplines follows. The review section is really a resume of papers given by various authors at laser conferences through 1964. SURGICAL APPLICATIONS OF LASER.
This monograph includes material which may interest the occasional research oph thalmologist but holds little interest for the practicing ophthalmologist. Its one great virtue lies in the fact that it has a relatively comprehensive bibliography which carries the literature pretty well through the year