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Modern Ophthalmology, 2nd ed. Vol. 1: Basic Aspects, Vol. 2: Systemic Aspects, Vols. 3 and 4: Topical Aspects
VOL. 75, NO. 3
BOOK REVIEWS
folds and the blurred optic disks. Choroidal detachment is briefly discussed. There is an extensive discussion of the depth of the ante rior chamber and aphakic pupillary block. Many types of glaucoma are discussed. The discussion of cystoid macular edema of Irvine is excellent. The section on vitreous changes is richly illustrated. Hyphema, expulsive hemorrhage, and vitreous hemorrhage are briefly discussed. Endophthalmitis and particulate matter in the eye are discussed in de tail, with emphasis on the use of millipore filters which the author developed to remove foreign matter from intraocular medications. Two chapters are devoted to uveitis and re tained lens material. Iris prolapse is briefly mentioned, and there is an extensive section on epithelial downgrowth, fibrous ingrowth, endothelial proliferation, and detachment of Descemet's membrane. The text concludes with a discussion of retinal detachment and aphakia, and a discussion of the behavioral disturbances. This book is written by a cataract surgeon who has considered each part of the opera tion with much insight and analysis of his own patients. It is highly recommended for all those who do cataract surgery, or who recommend cataract surgery for their pa tients. Frank W. Newell MODERN OPHTHALMOLOGY, 2nd ed. Vol.
1:
Basic Aspects, Vol. 2: Systemic Aspects, Vols. 3 and 4: Topical Aspects. Edited by Arnold Sorsby, Philadelphia, J. B. Lippincott, 1972. Vol. 1: 640 pages, Vol. 2 : 766 pages, Vols. 3 and 4 : 1276 pages, clothbound, table of contents, index. Vol. 1: 328 figures, Vol. 2: 259 figures, Vols. 3 and 4 : 654 figures. Vol. 1: $45.00, Vol. 2 : $50.00, Vols. 3 and 4 : $95.00 The appearance of the second edition of Modern Ophthalmology is a major event. The first volume is devoted to the history of ophthalmology, anatomy, physiology, oph thalmic optics, pharmacology, and some spe
537
cial diagnostic procedures. The history of ophthalmology is presented in an abbreviated manner in Sorsby's engaging style. It is de tailed enough to provide much more than a sample of what one can find in historical texts. Sorsby states that this is largely a re print of the second edition of his 1948 Short History of Ophthalmology, which is now out
of print. I found the section on anatomy difficult reading. The illustrations showed the cus tomary orientation of the choroid with Bruch's membrane above, but the illustra tions of the ciliary body showed the ciliary processes above, and those of the retina showed the photoreceptors above. The sec tion on visual physiology reminded me more of a seminar for advanced optics than a basic discussion of physiology. Witness the following opening sentence to the discussion of accommodation: "Can the brain utilize the blur in a retinal image in order to dis cover whether an object is too far or too near for the given state of accommodation ?". The section on biochemistry of the eye by H . W. Reading is outstanding, and he makes a difficult topic both interesting and under standable. The section on ophthalmic optics is largely mathematical. The section on phar macology, for some inexplicable reason, de scribes the use of both penicillin and strepto mycin locally. There are brief sections on special methods of examination. The second volume is devoted to systemic aspects of ophthalmology. Patz' section on prematurity is well done. The section on ge netically determined anomalies is woefully dated in this day of precise enzyme biochem istry. Extensive space is devoted to ocular tuberculosis, syphilis, congenital syphilis, and brucellosis, which seem to be mainly of historical interest. Many of the sections ap pear not to have been reviewed recently. Thygeson provides a good review of viral in fections and chlamydal diseases. The section on the central nervous system by Neven and Kiloh in the second volume is unusually well done. They state, however, that Kayser-
538
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
Fleischer rings are sometimes present in the relatives of individuals showing fully devel oped Wilson's disease. Indeed they are, for they signal the beginning disease and indi cate the need for penicillamine treatment be fore the onset of cirrhosis or neurological signs. Robert Leishman provides a fine dis cussion of diseases of the cardiovascular sys tem, as does Caird on diabetic retinopathy. The two final volumes cover the topical as pects of ophthalmology. The section on re fraction and accommodation is well done. The sections on the nature of spherical re fractive errors by Sorsby and oii anomalies of refraction accommodation by Primrose are exceptionally well done. Schlossman dis cusses squint extensively; Blodi discusses tumors, and Roper-Hall, injuries. Volume 4 contains excellent sections con cerning glaucoma (Sugar), uveitis (Coles),
MARCH, 1973
retinal detachment (Fison), and eyelids (Ferry). The 350-page section on surgery is excellent. The references are recent and the techniques modern. It is a pity that these volumes were reis sued without revision and integration of the various parts. Thus, although the metabolism of the lens is presented in a contemporary manner, together with the biochemistry of experimental galactose cataracts, the section on galactose cataracts depends upon a 1960 reference. Such discrepancies make one un easy with each section, wondering whether it is up-to-date, or a reprinting of old material. However, a section that provides its most re cent reference as 1960 may have been re vised, but it seems unlikely that our under standing of a topic has remained static dur ing the past decade. Frank W. Newell
OPHTHALMIC MINIATURE
To a responsible writer, the manuscript with his name on it is the highest product of his mind and art; as nearly flawless as he can make it, his property, rooted in his character and evidence of it. He is more over, scrupulous in matters of credit, use of quotation marks, accuracy of quotation, accuracy of paraphrase and accuracy of reference. All this implies that he can, and will, read accurately. Richard M. Hewitt Miss. Valley Med. J. 74:2, 1952
BOOK REVIEWS
folds and the blurred optic disks. Choroidal detachment is briefly discussed. There is an extensive discussion of the depth of the ante rior chamber and aphakic pupillary block. Many types of glaucoma are discussed. The discussion of cystoid macular edema of Irvine is excellent. The section on vitreous changes is richly illustrated. Hyphema, expulsive hemorrhage, and vitreous hemorrhage are briefly discussed. Endophthalmitis and particulate matter in the eye are discussed in de tail, with emphasis on the use of millipore filters which the author developed to remove foreign matter from intraocular medications. Two chapters are devoted to uveitis and re tained lens material. Iris prolapse is briefly mentioned, and there is an extensive section on epithelial downgrowth, fibrous ingrowth, endothelial proliferation, and detachment of Descemet's membrane. The text concludes with a discussion of retinal detachment and aphakia, and a discussion of the behavioral disturbances. This book is written by a cataract surgeon who has considered each part of the opera tion with much insight and analysis of his own patients. It is highly recommended for all those who do cataract surgery, or who recommend cataract surgery for their pa tients. Frank W. Newell MODERN OPHTHALMOLOGY, 2nd ed. Vol.
1:
Basic Aspects, Vol. 2: Systemic Aspects, Vols. 3 and 4: Topical Aspects. Edited by Arnold Sorsby, Philadelphia, J. B. Lippincott, 1972. Vol. 1: 640 pages, Vol. 2 : 766 pages, Vols. 3 and 4 : 1276 pages, clothbound, table of contents, index. Vol. 1: 328 figures, Vol. 2: 259 figures, Vols. 3 and 4 : 654 figures. Vol. 1: $45.00, Vol. 2 : $50.00, Vols. 3 and 4 : $95.00 The appearance of the second edition of Modern Ophthalmology is a major event. The first volume is devoted to the history of ophthalmology, anatomy, physiology, oph thalmic optics, pharmacology, and some spe
537
cial diagnostic procedures. The history of ophthalmology is presented in an abbreviated manner in Sorsby's engaging style. It is de tailed enough to provide much more than a sample of what one can find in historical texts. Sorsby states that this is largely a re print of the second edition of his 1948 Short History of Ophthalmology, which is now out
of print. I found the section on anatomy difficult reading. The illustrations showed the cus tomary orientation of the choroid with Bruch's membrane above, but the illustra tions of the ciliary body showed the ciliary processes above, and those of the retina showed the photoreceptors above. The sec tion on visual physiology reminded me more of a seminar for advanced optics than a basic discussion of physiology. Witness the following opening sentence to the discussion of accommodation: "Can the brain utilize the blur in a retinal image in order to dis cover whether an object is too far or too near for the given state of accommodation ?". The section on biochemistry of the eye by H . W. Reading is outstanding, and he makes a difficult topic both interesting and under standable. The section on ophthalmic optics is largely mathematical. The section on phar macology, for some inexplicable reason, de scribes the use of both penicillin and strepto mycin locally. There are brief sections on special methods of examination. The second volume is devoted to systemic aspects of ophthalmology. Patz' section on prematurity is well done. The section on ge netically determined anomalies is woefully dated in this day of precise enzyme biochem istry. Extensive space is devoted to ocular tuberculosis, syphilis, congenital syphilis, and brucellosis, which seem to be mainly of historical interest. Many of the sections ap pear not to have been reviewed recently. Thygeson provides a good review of viral in fections and chlamydal diseases. The section on the central nervous system by Neven and Kiloh in the second volume is unusually well done. They state, however, that Kayser-
538
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
Fleischer rings are sometimes present in the relatives of individuals showing fully devel oped Wilson's disease. Indeed they are, for they signal the beginning disease and indi cate the need for penicillamine treatment be fore the onset of cirrhosis or neurological signs. Robert Leishman provides a fine dis cussion of diseases of the cardiovascular sys tem, as does Caird on diabetic retinopathy. The two final volumes cover the topical as pects of ophthalmology. The section on re fraction and accommodation is well done. The sections on the nature of spherical re fractive errors by Sorsby and oii anomalies of refraction accommodation by Primrose are exceptionally well done. Schlossman dis cusses squint extensively; Blodi discusses tumors, and Roper-Hall, injuries. Volume 4 contains excellent sections con cerning glaucoma (Sugar), uveitis (Coles),
MARCH, 1973
retinal detachment (Fison), and eyelids (Ferry). The 350-page section on surgery is excellent. The references are recent and the techniques modern. It is a pity that these volumes were reis sued without revision and integration of the various parts. Thus, although the metabolism of the lens is presented in a contemporary manner, together with the biochemistry of experimental galactose cataracts, the section on galactose cataracts depends upon a 1960 reference. Such discrepancies make one un easy with each section, wondering whether it is up-to-date, or a reprinting of old material. However, a section that provides its most re cent reference as 1960 may have been re vised, but it seems unlikely that our under standing of a topic has remained static dur ing the past decade. Frank W. Newell
OPHTHALMIC MINIATURE
To a responsible writer, the manuscript with his name on it is the highest product of his mind and art; as nearly flawless as he can make it, his property, rooted in his character and evidence of it. He is more over, scrupulous in matters of credit, use of quotation marks, accuracy of quotation, accuracy of paraphrase and accuracy of reference. All this implies that he can, and will, read accurately. Richard M. Hewitt Miss. Valley Med. J. 74:2, 1952