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Major Problems in Ophthalmology, vol. 2. the Sclera and Systemic Disorders
VOL. 84, NO. 1
BOOK REVIEWS
titioner is able to determine whether drugs may be responsible for the patient's situation and to anticipate what drugs may interact with those the patient is receiving. However, if the ophthalmolo gist is interested in understanding why reactions and interactions occur, he will have to read elsewhere. The reader will be impressed with the fact that the subject if drug-induced side effects and drug interaction is a proliferat ing one. The ophthalmologist would be well advised to know and use a few drugs well than to use many drugs with which he is less familiar. It would be sensible to study the pertinent sections in this text or similar texts before initiating a therapeu tic modality to avoid or minimize those dangers. The level of recognition of this problem among our colleagues has increased tre mendously. However, many ophthalmol ogists are unaware of the many available publications that provide up-to-date in formation. A book such as this helps, but so does The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics, published by The Medical Letter, Inc., 56 Harrison Street, New Rochelle, N. Y. 10801; and Clin-Alert pub lished by Science Editors, Inc., 149 Thierman Lane, Louisville, Kentucky 40207. Dr. Fraunfelder has attempted to establish a national registry for druginduced ocular side effects, and lists the details in this book. Such a registry can review and record data on possible druginduced side effects, and make the data available to physicians who may believe they have a case of drug-induced ocular side effects or who may want more infor mation before administering any new agent to a patient. IRVING H. LEOPOLD
Major Problems in Ophthalmology, vol. 2. The Sclera and Systemic Disorders. By Peter G. Watson and Brian L. Hazleman.
131
Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders, 1976. Clothbound, 458 pages, table of con tents, index, 237 black and white fig ures, 6 color plates. $20 Before having been offered the oppor tunity to review this book, I was told by my colleagues in Great Britain that this may be one of the most significant texts originating in Great Britain in the past few years. Now, after reviewing this su perb and classic work, I found nothing to disagree with these comments. The au thors point out that, although rare, scleritis is seen at some time by every ophthal mologist or physician involved in the management of connective tissue diseas es. They further point out that some forms of episcleritis and scleral diseases are not harmful, others are severe and destruc tive. Of patients with necrotizing scleritis, 27% are dead within five years. This is the second volume in the series, "Major Problems in Ophthalmology," ed ited by Patrick D. Trevor-Roper. The au thors have brought together in one text all the diagnostic features that enable one to differentiate between the various condi tions affecting the sclera and the salient features of these systemic diseases com monly associated with scleral inflamma tion. They have most ably organized their large clinical and experimental knowl edge into a form which is easily read. They present the gamut of episcleral and scleral disease, including clinical, mor phologic, pathogenic, related systemic diseases, as well as the treatments of these diseases. The text is illustrated with high quality color, black and white drawings, and photographs, and is well indexed. This book, which has almost overnight so completely filled a void in the ophthalmic literature, is an absolute must for every student of ophthalmology, and a classic reference source for the clinician. F. T. FRAUNFELDER
BOOK REVIEWS
titioner is able to determine whether drugs may be responsible for the patient's situation and to anticipate what drugs may interact with those the patient is receiving. However, if the ophthalmolo gist is interested in understanding why reactions and interactions occur, he will have to read elsewhere. The reader will be impressed with the fact that the subject if drug-induced side effects and drug interaction is a proliferat ing one. The ophthalmologist would be well advised to know and use a few drugs well than to use many drugs with which he is less familiar. It would be sensible to study the pertinent sections in this text or similar texts before initiating a therapeu tic modality to avoid or minimize those dangers. The level of recognition of this problem among our colleagues has increased tre mendously. However, many ophthalmol ogists are unaware of the many available publications that provide up-to-date in formation. A book such as this helps, but so does The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics, published by The Medical Letter, Inc., 56 Harrison Street, New Rochelle, N. Y. 10801; and Clin-Alert pub lished by Science Editors, Inc., 149 Thierman Lane, Louisville, Kentucky 40207. Dr. Fraunfelder has attempted to establish a national registry for druginduced ocular side effects, and lists the details in this book. Such a registry can review and record data on possible druginduced side effects, and make the data available to physicians who may believe they have a case of drug-induced ocular side effects or who may want more infor mation before administering any new agent to a patient. IRVING H. LEOPOLD
Major Problems in Ophthalmology, vol. 2. The Sclera and Systemic Disorders. By Peter G. Watson and Brian L. Hazleman.
131
Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders, 1976. Clothbound, 458 pages, table of con tents, index, 237 black and white fig ures, 6 color plates. $20 Before having been offered the oppor tunity to review this book, I was told by my colleagues in Great Britain that this may be one of the most significant texts originating in Great Britain in the past few years. Now, after reviewing this su perb and classic work, I found nothing to disagree with these comments. The au thors point out that, although rare, scleritis is seen at some time by every ophthal mologist or physician involved in the management of connective tissue diseas es. They further point out that some forms of episcleritis and scleral diseases are not harmful, others are severe and destruc tive. Of patients with necrotizing scleritis, 27% are dead within five years. This is the second volume in the series, "Major Problems in Ophthalmology," ed ited by Patrick D. Trevor-Roper. The au thors have brought together in one text all the diagnostic features that enable one to differentiate between the various condi tions affecting the sclera and the salient features of these systemic diseases com monly associated with scleral inflamma tion. They have most ably organized their large clinical and experimental knowl edge into a form which is easily read. They present the gamut of episcleral and scleral disease, including clinical, mor phologic, pathogenic, related systemic diseases, as well as the treatments of these diseases. The text is illustrated with high quality color, black and white drawings, and photographs, and is well indexed. This book, which has almost overnight so completely filled a void in the ophthalmic literature, is an absolute must for every student of ophthalmology, and a classic reference source for the clinician. F. T. FRAUNFELDER