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Procedures for Testing Color Vision
VOL. 94, NO.4
BOOK REVIEWS
eye, studies have not been done on 0.01 % thimerosal. 5 However, the development of mercuriallentis from this mercurial antiseptic during short-term use is unlikely because pilocarpine eyedrops contain up to 0.005% thimerosal, and problems have not developed even after many years of therapy. 6 ALLAN FLACH, M.D., PHARM.D. ALMA MURPHY, M.D.
San Francisco, California REFERENCES 1. Duane, T. D.: Fluorescite-fluorouracil. A nearly tragic confusion in identity. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 77:277, 1974. 2. Rumelt, M. B.: Dangers of similar packaging. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 91:804, 1981. 3. Partamian, L., and Kass, M.: Similar packaging of ophthalmic drugs. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 92:586, 1981. 4. Katz, N. N., and Foer, E. G.: Ophthalmic drugs with similar packaging. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 93:253, 1982. 5. Grant, W. M.: Toxicology of the Eye, 2nd ed. Springfield, Charles C Thomas, 1974. 6. Abrams, J. D.: Mercurial preservatives in eye drops. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 49:146, 1965.
BOOK
REVIEWS
Procedures for Testing Color Vision. By Joel Pokorny, Bill Collins, Gerald Howett, Romuald Lakowski, Mark Lewis, Jack Moreland, Helen Paulson, Vivianne C. Smith, and Steven Shevell (Working Group 41, National Research Council). Washington, D. C., National Academy Press, 1981. Softcover, 120 pages, references, 21 black and white figures. $2 The Committee on Vision of the National Research Council established Working Group 41 to assess the usefulness of existing color vision tests and to determine how adequately these tests have been validated; the report of the Working Group is detailed in this book. A comprehensive description of each of approximately 25 different clinical color vi-
567
sion tests forms most of the book. For each test the methods of administration and scoring are individually described, and the available data on test validity, reliability, and clinical applications are reviewed. The book includes an excellent bibliography. Additionally, for each test addresses are listed from which the testing apparatus can be ordered. The Working Group acknowledges the difficulties in establishing precise color vision requirements for various types of occupations, and does not attempt to specify such requirements in this book. An introductory chapter reviews the classification of congenital and acquired color vision defects, and a later chapter describes a practical approach to the clinical application of color vision tests (including screening techniques and a recommended test battery for classifying defects). The latter includes brief sections on color vision screening for professional purposes, training personnel to administer tests, and some special problems of testing the elderly, children, and malingerers. A final appendix reviews the theoretical basis for the design of the various classes of color vision tests (pseudoisochromatic plate tests, arrangement tests, and anomaloscopes). The main value of this book is its detailed description of the many color vision tests in use around the world. I recommend it for research or clinical workers interested in establishing a color vision test system tailored to specific needs. The book effectively explains the usefulness and limitations of existing testing material. It does not describe in detail the color vision abnormalities found in various disease states, although some of the information in this book is based on material prepared for one such textbook. 1 GEORGE H. BRESNICK REFERENCE 1. Pokorny, J., Smith, V. G., Verriest, G., and Pinckers, A. J. L. G.: Congenital and Acquired
568
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
Color Vision Defects. New York, Grone and Stratton, 1979.
Control of Vitamin A Deficiency and Xerophthalmia. Report of a Joint WHOI UNICEF/USAID/Helen Keller InternationallIVACG Meeting. Geneva, World Health Organization Technical Report Series No. 672, 1982. Softcover, 74 pages, list of participants, 7 color figures, 4 black and white figures. Approx. $3.75 This new World Health Organization publication confirms the old adage that you cannot judge a book by its cover. Although this book is the latest addition to the World Health Organization Technical Report Series and has the same external appearance as the preceding 671 reports, its contents are different. This is the report prepared by the International Vitamin A Consultative Group that met in Indonesia in 1980. It is an excellent and up-to-date review of our current knowledge of vitamin A metabolism and the effects of vitamin A deficiency, including its clinical aspects. It incorporates many of the findings of the excellent studies recently completed in Indonesia. The book also highlights areas of incomplete understanding that require further research. It is difficult to review all the recent advances outlined in this book, although those relating to the clinical aspects of the diagnosis of xerophthalmia and its prevention are likely to be of particular interest to ophthalmologists. One area that has been significantly revised and simplified is the grading and classification of xerophthalmia; each stage is illustrated with some excellent color photographs. Also noteworthy is the inclusion of nightblindness as one of the definable symptoms and signs of xerophthalmia. Although nightblindness has long been recognized as a symptom of early vitamin A deficiency, Sommer and associates
OCTOBER, 1982
have investigated its usefulness as a xerophthalmia screening tool. They found that nightblindness is closely correlated with other evidence of vitamin A deficiency, and the new classification takes note of this. The classification of corneal ulceration has also been redefined and simplified, increasing its usefulness. The prevalence criteria indicating the presence of vitamin A deficiency or xerophthalmia, or both, of public health significance have been recalculated, based on the relative prevalence rates found in Indonesia. The reference rates of active xerophthalmia corneal disease, for example, correlated with lower rates of Bitot spots, and therefore the criterion of Bitot spots has been reduced. There is an interesting and informative section that highlights the global occurrence of vitamin A deficiency. This section will soon need to be updated, however, as new information becomes available from surveys that have been conducted recently in Africa. The significant advances in our understanding of the treatment of xerophthalmia in the last few years have been incorporated, and the superiority of the oral administration of massive doses of vitamin A is stressed. The three main approaches to the prevention of xerophthalmia are described in some detail. These approaches include the mass distribution of vitamin A, vitamin A dietary supplementation or the enrichment of food products, and nutritional education. Each method is illustrated, with a summary of the activities in each country in which that method is being implemented. This new book is small, concise, and highly readable. It is an informative document that will quickly bring the reader up to date in this field, one that has changed significantly during the last few years. With a price of less than $4, this book must surely be one of the best buys of the year. HUGH R. TAYLOR
BOOK REVIEWS
eye, studies have not been done on 0.01 % thimerosal. 5 However, the development of mercuriallentis from this mercurial antiseptic during short-term use is unlikely because pilocarpine eyedrops contain up to 0.005% thimerosal, and problems have not developed even after many years of therapy. 6 ALLAN FLACH, M.D., PHARM.D. ALMA MURPHY, M.D.
San Francisco, California REFERENCES 1. Duane, T. D.: Fluorescite-fluorouracil. A nearly tragic confusion in identity. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 77:277, 1974. 2. Rumelt, M. B.: Dangers of similar packaging. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 91:804, 1981. 3. Partamian, L., and Kass, M.: Similar packaging of ophthalmic drugs. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 92:586, 1981. 4. Katz, N. N., and Foer, E. G.: Ophthalmic drugs with similar packaging. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 93:253, 1982. 5. Grant, W. M.: Toxicology of the Eye, 2nd ed. Springfield, Charles C Thomas, 1974. 6. Abrams, J. D.: Mercurial preservatives in eye drops. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 49:146, 1965.
BOOK
REVIEWS
Procedures for Testing Color Vision. By Joel Pokorny, Bill Collins, Gerald Howett, Romuald Lakowski, Mark Lewis, Jack Moreland, Helen Paulson, Vivianne C. Smith, and Steven Shevell (Working Group 41, National Research Council). Washington, D. C., National Academy Press, 1981. Softcover, 120 pages, references, 21 black and white figures. $2 The Committee on Vision of the National Research Council established Working Group 41 to assess the usefulness of existing color vision tests and to determine how adequately these tests have been validated; the report of the Working Group is detailed in this book. A comprehensive description of each of approximately 25 different clinical color vi-
567
sion tests forms most of the book. For each test the methods of administration and scoring are individually described, and the available data on test validity, reliability, and clinical applications are reviewed. The book includes an excellent bibliography. Additionally, for each test addresses are listed from which the testing apparatus can be ordered. The Working Group acknowledges the difficulties in establishing precise color vision requirements for various types of occupations, and does not attempt to specify such requirements in this book. An introductory chapter reviews the classification of congenital and acquired color vision defects, and a later chapter describes a practical approach to the clinical application of color vision tests (including screening techniques and a recommended test battery for classifying defects). The latter includes brief sections on color vision screening for professional purposes, training personnel to administer tests, and some special problems of testing the elderly, children, and malingerers. A final appendix reviews the theoretical basis for the design of the various classes of color vision tests (pseudoisochromatic plate tests, arrangement tests, and anomaloscopes). The main value of this book is its detailed description of the many color vision tests in use around the world. I recommend it for research or clinical workers interested in establishing a color vision test system tailored to specific needs. The book effectively explains the usefulness and limitations of existing testing material. It does not describe in detail the color vision abnormalities found in various disease states, although some of the information in this book is based on material prepared for one such textbook. 1 GEORGE H. BRESNICK REFERENCE 1. Pokorny, J., Smith, V. G., Verriest, G., and Pinckers, A. J. L. G.: Congenital and Acquired
568
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
Color Vision Defects. New York, Grone and Stratton, 1979.
Control of Vitamin A Deficiency and Xerophthalmia. Report of a Joint WHOI UNICEF/USAID/Helen Keller InternationallIVACG Meeting. Geneva, World Health Organization Technical Report Series No. 672, 1982. Softcover, 74 pages, list of participants, 7 color figures, 4 black and white figures. Approx. $3.75 This new World Health Organization publication confirms the old adage that you cannot judge a book by its cover. Although this book is the latest addition to the World Health Organization Technical Report Series and has the same external appearance as the preceding 671 reports, its contents are different. This is the report prepared by the International Vitamin A Consultative Group that met in Indonesia in 1980. It is an excellent and up-to-date review of our current knowledge of vitamin A metabolism and the effects of vitamin A deficiency, including its clinical aspects. It incorporates many of the findings of the excellent studies recently completed in Indonesia. The book also highlights areas of incomplete understanding that require further research. It is difficult to review all the recent advances outlined in this book, although those relating to the clinical aspects of the diagnosis of xerophthalmia and its prevention are likely to be of particular interest to ophthalmologists. One area that has been significantly revised and simplified is the grading and classification of xerophthalmia; each stage is illustrated with some excellent color photographs. Also noteworthy is the inclusion of nightblindness as one of the definable symptoms and signs of xerophthalmia. Although nightblindness has long been recognized as a symptom of early vitamin A deficiency, Sommer and associates
OCTOBER, 1982
have investigated its usefulness as a xerophthalmia screening tool. They found that nightblindness is closely correlated with other evidence of vitamin A deficiency, and the new classification takes note of this. The classification of corneal ulceration has also been redefined and simplified, increasing its usefulness. The prevalence criteria indicating the presence of vitamin A deficiency or xerophthalmia, or both, of public health significance have been recalculated, based on the relative prevalence rates found in Indonesia. The reference rates of active xerophthalmia corneal disease, for example, correlated with lower rates of Bitot spots, and therefore the criterion of Bitot spots has been reduced. There is an interesting and informative section that highlights the global occurrence of vitamin A deficiency. This section will soon need to be updated, however, as new information becomes available from surveys that have been conducted recently in Africa. The significant advances in our understanding of the treatment of xerophthalmia in the last few years have been incorporated, and the superiority of the oral administration of massive doses of vitamin A is stressed. The three main approaches to the prevention of xerophthalmia are described in some detail. These approaches include the mass distribution of vitamin A, vitamin A dietary supplementation or the enrichment of food products, and nutritional education. Each method is illustrated, with a summary of the activities in each country in which that method is being implemented. This new book is small, concise, and highly readable. It is an informative document that will quickly bring the reader up to date in this field, one that has changed significantly during the last few years. With a price of less than $4, this book must surely be one of the best buys of the year. HUGH R. TAYLOR