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Ophthalmology. Principles and Concepts
Vol. 113, No. 3
volume, however, is the first photographic atlas compiled to illustrate neuropathologic and ophthalmic pathologic changes. The authors, neuropathologists from Massachusetts and Par is, France, have written extensively about the neuropathologic changes in AIDS. They pre pared this tome from their excellent and com prehensive collection of illustrations, accompa nying them with brief descriptive text of gross and microscopic features, and references. The references, though not all-encompassing, are well chosen and provide a good selective bibli ography for the listed conditions, classified as primary or putative effects of HIV-1, opportun istic infections, and neoplasia. The neuropathology section of the atlas takes the first 123 pages; the section devoted to oph thalmic pathology consists of only one third that many pages. The subjects are classified in the introduction as retinal microvascular ab normalities, infectious diseases, neoplasia, and neuro-ophthalmology. However, neuro-ophthalmology, which encompasses optic nerve disorders, motility disturbances, and visual dis turbances, is not mentioned again. Most of the section is taken up by descriptions of cotton wool spots (six pages, one fundus photograph, and six photomicrographs), and cytomegalic inclusion retinitis (12 pages, seven fundus pho tographs, and ten photomicrographs). Other conditions mentioned (often briefly) are HIV and herpetic infections (neither illustrated), toxoplasmosis, other infections (not illustrat ed), lymphoma, and Kaposi's sarcoma. Al though this section might be of interest to nonophthalmologic medical personnel helping to care for AIDS patients (the avowed purpose of the authors as stated in their preface), unfor tunately, none of the conditions are reviewed in sufficient depth to warrant more than a passing glance by ophthalmologists.
Ophthalmology. Principles and Concepts, ed. 7. By Frank W. Newell. St. Louis, Mosby Year Book, 1992. 587 pages, index, illustrated. $51.95 Reviewed by FRANCIS J. SOUSA
Sacramento, California Learning the fundamentals of ophthalmology is an exciting and challenging task for medical
Book Reviews
351
students, residents, and practitioners alike. Anyone who has tried to teach these principles and concepts knows the inherent difficulties of applying a vast basic science knowledge to clinical practice. Dr. Newell believes an intro duction to ophthalmology is not so complicated that it is beyond the ability of a single author. Indeed, he believes that if many authors are required, perhaps the level at which the topics are presented is too obscure to remain appro priate for the beginner. The text is divided into four sections, begin ning with Basic Mechanisms (anatomy, embry ology, physiology, biochemistry, and pharma cology). The next three parts apply these mechanisms to History Taking and Examina tion of the Eye, Disease and Injuries of the Eye, and Systemic Diseases of the Eye. Dr. Newell's renaissance style is invaluable to the book's successful accomplishment of its mission. It freely and comfortably moves from basic sci ence principles to clinical practice applications and from simple observations to detailed expla nations within the same chapter. The skillful use of sketches and diagrams makes some of the more difficult lessons lucid and succinct without oversimplification. The color photographs and the case studies of com mon and important eye conditions help make the crucial transition from basic science princi ples to clinical practice smooth, practical, and tangible. The book's superb glossary and its easy-to-use, thorough, up-to-date index reflect the maturity and organization that only a quar ter of a century of thoughtful revision can bring. Dr. Newell has created, for the 1990s, a fresh seventh edition of this classic work, discarding nonessential old text, reorganizing previous information so that it is more comprehensive and understandable, and inserting new, clini cally relevant information. The addition of new chapters on the pupil and on intraocular in flammation is particularly helpful. Incorporat ed also are new topics such as acute retinal necrosis, posterior scleritis, and computerized imaging. At the same time, the book's overall organization is maintained, preserving its use fulness as both a general reference and, more importantly, as a fundamentally sound and usable first textbook of ophthalmology. Having one book to recommend confidently to the novice as a basic science warehouse, and a good clinical introduction, is simply invalua-
352
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
ble. Ophthalmology. Principles and Concepts is "that book" for the entire spectrum of stu dents and teachers of primary ophthalmology.
Color Atlas of Corneal Dystrophies and Degen erations. By T. A. Casey and K. W. Sharif. St. Louis, Mosby Year Book, 1991. 126 pages, index, illustrated. $80
March, 1992
Perhaps the only criticism of this book is that it omits mention of certain of the dystrophies and degenerations and includes others whose appearance are so rare that their inclusion might not be warranted even in an atlas of the obscure. This text will be particularly useful in train ing programs where it can serve as a handy pictorial reference. It certainly accomplishes its stated purpose.
Reviewed by MARK J. MANNIS
Sacramento, California This text was written on the premise that although the literature and currently available texts provide detailed descriptions of the pano ply of corneal dystrophies and degenerations, the accompanying photographs or drawings are often in black and white and do not relate easily to the clinical setting. Accordingly, the authors have compiled a sumptuous collection of origi nal color photographs and color drawings to illustrate the classical findings and variants of the corneal dystrophies and degenerations. The result is a book of superb photographs and illustrations that will serve as references for the clinician who encounters some of these disor ders rarely in the course of a clinical practice. The first three chapters of the atlas deal with the anterior corneal dystrophies, the stromal dystrophies, and the endothelial dystrophies. The remaining chapters cover keratoconus, age-related corneal degeneration, calcific cor neal degeneration, pigmentary degeneration, lipid degeneration, Salzmann's nodular degen eration, spheroidal degeneration, Terrien's marginal degeneration, pellucid marginal de generation, corneal amyloidosis, and the super ficial reticular degeneration of Koby. Photo graphs and illustrations of each clinical entity are preceded by a brief clinical summary. Each photograph or drawing is accompanied by an explanatory legend. Neither the discussions nor the reference lists are exhaustive, but are clearly intended to be summary, providing only a basic description of the entities illustrated in the subsequent photo-essay. Most sections are accompanied by a high-quality color photomi crograph of the pertinent histopathologic fea tures. The excellent color illustrations by Tarrant complement the photographs beautifully and deserve special mention.
Books Received Developments in Ophthalmology, vol. 23. Inter mediate Uveitis. Edited by W. Straub. Switzer land, Karger, 1992. 290 pages, index, illustrat ed. $228 This collection of papers was presented at the International Workshop on Intermediate Uvei tis in July 1990. Included are discussions of clinical aspects, etiology and pathogenesis, as sociated diseases, invasive diagnostic proce dures, and medical and surgical treatment. This text is somewhat specialized, but will be of interest to anyone concerned with the form of uveitis in which inflammation of the vitreous is the major visible symptom.
In-Office Training Manual and Series Review. By Janice Ledford. Thorofare, New Jersey, Slack, Inc., 1992. 138 pages, index. $40 This manual, part of the Ophthalmic Techni cal Skills Series, is written for the individuals who must be trained on-the-job as ophthalmic medical personnel. The manual offers a me thodical combination of home textbook study and on-the-job practice, designed to cover an eight-week period. It is not an instructional text but refers to the Ophthalmic Technical Skills Series. The manual has a study schedule, a teaching guide for the supervisor, skill-objec tive worksheets, and orderly study assignments with reading references. The manual also in cludes a short dictionary of ophthalmic abbre viations and a large section of multiple-choice questions for topic review.
volume, however, is the first photographic atlas compiled to illustrate neuropathologic and ophthalmic pathologic changes. The authors, neuropathologists from Massachusetts and Par is, France, have written extensively about the neuropathologic changes in AIDS. They pre pared this tome from their excellent and com prehensive collection of illustrations, accompa nying them with brief descriptive text of gross and microscopic features, and references. The references, though not all-encompassing, are well chosen and provide a good selective bibli ography for the listed conditions, classified as primary or putative effects of HIV-1, opportun istic infections, and neoplasia. The neuropathology section of the atlas takes the first 123 pages; the section devoted to oph thalmic pathology consists of only one third that many pages. The subjects are classified in the introduction as retinal microvascular ab normalities, infectious diseases, neoplasia, and neuro-ophthalmology. However, neuro-ophthalmology, which encompasses optic nerve disorders, motility disturbances, and visual dis turbances, is not mentioned again. Most of the section is taken up by descriptions of cotton wool spots (six pages, one fundus photograph, and six photomicrographs), and cytomegalic inclusion retinitis (12 pages, seven fundus pho tographs, and ten photomicrographs). Other conditions mentioned (often briefly) are HIV and herpetic infections (neither illustrated), toxoplasmosis, other infections (not illustrat ed), lymphoma, and Kaposi's sarcoma. Al though this section might be of interest to nonophthalmologic medical personnel helping to care for AIDS patients (the avowed purpose of the authors as stated in their preface), unfor tunately, none of the conditions are reviewed in sufficient depth to warrant more than a passing glance by ophthalmologists.
Ophthalmology. Principles and Concepts, ed. 7. By Frank W. Newell. St. Louis, Mosby Year Book, 1992. 587 pages, index, illustrated. $51.95 Reviewed by FRANCIS J. SOUSA
Sacramento, California Learning the fundamentals of ophthalmology is an exciting and challenging task for medical
Book Reviews
351
students, residents, and practitioners alike. Anyone who has tried to teach these principles and concepts knows the inherent difficulties of applying a vast basic science knowledge to clinical practice. Dr. Newell believes an intro duction to ophthalmology is not so complicated that it is beyond the ability of a single author. Indeed, he believes that if many authors are required, perhaps the level at which the topics are presented is too obscure to remain appro priate for the beginner. The text is divided into four sections, begin ning with Basic Mechanisms (anatomy, embry ology, physiology, biochemistry, and pharma cology). The next three parts apply these mechanisms to History Taking and Examina tion of the Eye, Disease and Injuries of the Eye, and Systemic Diseases of the Eye. Dr. Newell's renaissance style is invaluable to the book's successful accomplishment of its mission. It freely and comfortably moves from basic sci ence principles to clinical practice applications and from simple observations to detailed expla nations within the same chapter. The skillful use of sketches and diagrams makes some of the more difficult lessons lucid and succinct without oversimplification. The color photographs and the case studies of com mon and important eye conditions help make the crucial transition from basic science princi ples to clinical practice smooth, practical, and tangible. The book's superb glossary and its easy-to-use, thorough, up-to-date index reflect the maturity and organization that only a quar ter of a century of thoughtful revision can bring. Dr. Newell has created, for the 1990s, a fresh seventh edition of this classic work, discarding nonessential old text, reorganizing previous information so that it is more comprehensive and understandable, and inserting new, clini cally relevant information. The addition of new chapters on the pupil and on intraocular in flammation is particularly helpful. Incorporat ed also are new topics such as acute retinal necrosis, posterior scleritis, and computerized imaging. At the same time, the book's overall organization is maintained, preserving its use fulness as both a general reference and, more importantly, as a fundamentally sound and usable first textbook of ophthalmology. Having one book to recommend confidently to the novice as a basic science warehouse, and a good clinical introduction, is simply invalua-
352
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
ble. Ophthalmology. Principles and Concepts is "that book" for the entire spectrum of stu dents and teachers of primary ophthalmology.
Color Atlas of Corneal Dystrophies and Degen erations. By T. A. Casey and K. W. Sharif. St. Louis, Mosby Year Book, 1991. 126 pages, index, illustrated. $80
March, 1992
Perhaps the only criticism of this book is that it omits mention of certain of the dystrophies and degenerations and includes others whose appearance are so rare that their inclusion might not be warranted even in an atlas of the obscure. This text will be particularly useful in train ing programs where it can serve as a handy pictorial reference. It certainly accomplishes its stated purpose.
Reviewed by MARK J. MANNIS
Sacramento, California This text was written on the premise that although the literature and currently available texts provide detailed descriptions of the pano ply of corneal dystrophies and degenerations, the accompanying photographs or drawings are often in black and white and do not relate easily to the clinical setting. Accordingly, the authors have compiled a sumptuous collection of origi nal color photographs and color drawings to illustrate the classical findings and variants of the corneal dystrophies and degenerations. The result is a book of superb photographs and illustrations that will serve as references for the clinician who encounters some of these disor ders rarely in the course of a clinical practice. The first three chapters of the atlas deal with the anterior corneal dystrophies, the stromal dystrophies, and the endothelial dystrophies. The remaining chapters cover keratoconus, age-related corneal degeneration, calcific cor neal degeneration, pigmentary degeneration, lipid degeneration, Salzmann's nodular degen eration, spheroidal degeneration, Terrien's marginal degeneration, pellucid marginal de generation, corneal amyloidosis, and the super ficial reticular degeneration of Koby. Photo graphs and illustrations of each clinical entity are preceded by a brief clinical summary. Each photograph or drawing is accompanied by an explanatory legend. Neither the discussions nor the reference lists are exhaustive, but are clearly intended to be summary, providing only a basic description of the entities illustrated in the subsequent photo-essay. Most sections are accompanied by a high-quality color photomi crograph of the pertinent histopathologic fea tures. The excellent color illustrations by Tarrant complement the photographs beautifully and deserve special mention.
Books Received Developments in Ophthalmology, vol. 23. Inter mediate Uveitis. Edited by W. Straub. Switzer land, Karger, 1992. 290 pages, index, illustrat ed. $228 This collection of papers was presented at the International Workshop on Intermediate Uvei tis in July 1990. Included are discussions of clinical aspects, etiology and pathogenesis, as sociated diseases, invasive diagnostic proce dures, and medical and surgical treatment. This text is somewhat specialized, but will be of interest to anyone concerned with the form of uveitis in which inflammation of the vitreous is the major visible symptom.
In-Office Training Manual and Series Review. By Janice Ledford. Thorofare, New Jersey, Slack, Inc., 1992. 138 pages, index. $40 This manual, part of the Ophthalmic Techni cal Skills Series, is written for the individuals who must be trained on-the-job as ophthalmic medical personnel. The manual offers a me thodical combination of home textbook study and on-the-job practice, designed to cover an eight-week period. It is not an instructional text but refers to the Ophthalmic Technical Skills Series. The manual has a study schedule, a teaching guide for the supervisor, skill-objec tive worksheets, and orderly study assignments with reading references. The manual also in cludes a short dictionary of ophthalmic abbre viations and a large section of multiple-choice questions for topic review.