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Proceedings of the First South African International Ophthalmological Symposium
VOL. 70, NO. 3
BOOK REVIEWS
per concerns the molecular basis of vision, Hartline discusses the inhibitory interactions within the retina, and Brown presents a complete exposition of the components and origins of the various parts of the electroretinogram. The concluding section of the book con cerns the topography of the retina, the retinal blood supply and Harrington's paper on vis ual field defects of retinal origin, and in cludes clinical papers on visual acuity, adap tation studies, electrophysiology, electrooculography and the character of acquired color vision defects. The book is a valuable reference work and has a place in the library of every ophthal mologist. It contains an immense quantity of information which is not readily available elsewhere in a single volume. Robert W. Hollenhorst
T H E N E W REPORT ON CATARACT SURGERY.
Proceedings of the First Biennial Cataract Surgical Congress, Miami Beach, Florida. Edited by Robert C. Welsh and Judith Welsh. Miami, Miami Educational Press, 1969. Price: $30.25. Early in 1969, the first biennial cataract surgical congress was held in Miami Beach, Florida. This book is the result of a conden sation of the some 30 hours of tape tran scription. The major topics include manage ment of the vitreous, wound incision and closure, late flat anterior chamber, corneal complications, cataract extraction in eyes with glaucoma, postoperative uveitis, preop erative examination, and aspiration of lenses. The material was not reviewed by the panelists, and the editors ask indulgence for some of the unorthodox grammatical struc ture. The informality at times affects the spelling which may be disconcerting to some readers. However, the material is presented in an interesting manner and affords an up-to-theminute review of current topics in cataract
445
extraction. The major points discussed in clude osmotic therapy (preoperative osmotic therapy rather than acetazolamide [Diamox] if anything is used) ; the desirability of an immobile eye following akinesia; the use of ocular massage for five minutes rather than two; postoperative vitreous syndromes; evi dence that more wound fistulas develop with use of 8-0 silk than 7-0 silk; the trend to ward the use of nonabsorbable sutures which are not removed postoperatively ; the in creasing use of keratome and scissors inci sions rather than Graefe knife incisions ; ex traction of monocular cataracts with postop erative optical corrections with contact lenses ; a preference for round pupil with an iridotomy rather than peripheral iridectomy ; a preference for a cryoprobe rather than erisophake or forceps; an estimate of 300,000 cataract extractions in the United States in 1968 ; a trend toward the combination of fil tration procedures and cataract extractions in patients with glaucoma (certainly a topic requiring controlled studies) ; and aspiration of cataracts up to the age of 35 years. As this list of topics indicates, the discus sions were lively, and cataract surgeons in particular will be interested in the different views presented. Frank W. Newell
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIRST SOUTH AFRI CAN INTERNATIONAL OPHTHALMOLOGI-
CAL SYMPOSIUM. Edited by Maurice H. Luntz. New York, Appleton-CenturyCrofts, 1970. Clothbound, 374 pages, sub ject and author index, illustrations. Price: $23.50. The First South African International Ophthalmological Symposium was held in September, 1968, in Johannesburg. A wide diversity of subjects appealing to most oph thalmologists was chosen by the planners of the symposium and an impressive group of well-known international figures in ophthal mology was selected as moderators, speak ers, and panelists. The proceedings, a natural
446
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
outgrowth of the symposium, was published so that the material presented might be made available to all ophthalmologists in much the same form as presented. In this endeavor the editor, Professor Maurice H. Luntz, suc ceeded admirably. Price to the opening of the scientific ses sion a moving dedicatory address honoring Sir Benjamin Rycroft was given by Derrick Vail. Sir Benjamin had been made president of the symposium and his untimely death in March of 1967 was felt keenly by the world ophthalmic community. This fitting tribute by one of the world's' great ophthalmologists to another world ophthalmologist of equal repute set a high tone for the meeting. The scientific program was divided into the following subdisciplines : ( 1 ) Sympo sium on Contact Lenses; (2) Symposium on Strabismus, Pleoptics and Orthoptics; (3) Symposium on Glaucoma; (4) Cinematog raphy in Ophthalmology; (5) Symposium on the Retina; (6) Symposium on Anterior Segment Surgery; (7) Symposium on Com plications of Anterior Segment Surgery; (8) Symposium on Corneal Surgery; and (9) Symposium on Plastic and Reconstruc tive Surgery. In each instance papers were first read and then discussed. A comprehensive panel discussion with some audience participation brought each symposium to a close. The proceedings is well done, as was the symposium from which it emanated. Material is presented succinctly with a minimum of drivel. A surprising amount of new material is made available and an occasional ophthal mic pearl of great price is to be found. All in all, this proceeding makes good, solid reading for any ophthalmologist. DuPont Guerry III
REHABILITATION
COUNSELING
OF
THE
By Thomas A. Routh. Springfield, Illinois, Charles C Thomas, 1970. Clothbound, 85 pages, index. Price : $6.75. In this small book the author outlines the BLIND.
SEPTEMBER, 1970
principles essential to adequate counseling of the blind in relation to rehabilitation. He em phasizes four main phases: suggestions and recommendations mutually arrived at be tween the client and the counselor ; assisting the client to prepare himself for a chosen field of work; assisting him to enter the field ; and supervision after employment. The technique of interviewing the blind, value of group work, evaluation of client potential, importance of adjustment and mental health, are all preliminary to vocational guidance as the last step. Many blind persons are not suitable candi dates for economic rehabilitation. The author properly believes complete financial inde pendence through employment and without any form of dole to be the goal, but probably not more than 10% of the blind in the United States can be termed employable ; of these only a small percent reach complete financial independence. There is no attempt to discuss the details of rehabilitation nor specific forms of train ing for occupations ; the concern, as the title indicates, is purely with the philosophical and psychological approach to the rehabilita tive process. The book will therefore be of more interest to the social worker or psy chologist involved in training the blind than to the ophthalmologist. The latter is, or should be, familiar with most of the facts and theory elucidated. William A. Mann
L'UVEITE, PHÉNOMÈNES IMMUNOLOGIQUES ET ALLERGIQUES. Edited by R. Campinchi,
J. P. Faure, E. Bloch-Michel, and J. Haut. Paris, Masson & Cie, 1970. Paper bound, 973 pages, bibliography, seven color figures and black and white illustrations. The annual report of the French Ophthalmological Society constitutes a highlight of the ophthalmic scientific year. These reports have appeared annually since 1948 and pro vide a current review of the literature. R. Campinchi, J. P. Faure, E. Bloch-Michel,
BOOK REVIEWS
per concerns the molecular basis of vision, Hartline discusses the inhibitory interactions within the retina, and Brown presents a complete exposition of the components and origins of the various parts of the electroretinogram. The concluding section of the book con cerns the topography of the retina, the retinal blood supply and Harrington's paper on vis ual field defects of retinal origin, and in cludes clinical papers on visual acuity, adap tation studies, electrophysiology, electrooculography and the character of acquired color vision defects. The book is a valuable reference work and has a place in the library of every ophthal mologist. It contains an immense quantity of information which is not readily available elsewhere in a single volume. Robert W. Hollenhorst
T H E N E W REPORT ON CATARACT SURGERY.
Proceedings of the First Biennial Cataract Surgical Congress, Miami Beach, Florida. Edited by Robert C. Welsh and Judith Welsh. Miami, Miami Educational Press, 1969. Price: $30.25. Early in 1969, the first biennial cataract surgical congress was held in Miami Beach, Florida. This book is the result of a conden sation of the some 30 hours of tape tran scription. The major topics include manage ment of the vitreous, wound incision and closure, late flat anterior chamber, corneal complications, cataract extraction in eyes with glaucoma, postoperative uveitis, preop erative examination, and aspiration of lenses. The material was not reviewed by the panelists, and the editors ask indulgence for some of the unorthodox grammatical struc ture. The informality at times affects the spelling which may be disconcerting to some readers. However, the material is presented in an interesting manner and affords an up-to-theminute review of current topics in cataract
445
extraction. The major points discussed in clude osmotic therapy (preoperative osmotic therapy rather than acetazolamide [Diamox] if anything is used) ; the desirability of an immobile eye following akinesia; the use of ocular massage for five minutes rather than two; postoperative vitreous syndromes; evi dence that more wound fistulas develop with use of 8-0 silk than 7-0 silk; the trend to ward the use of nonabsorbable sutures which are not removed postoperatively ; the in creasing use of keratome and scissors inci sions rather than Graefe knife incisions ; ex traction of monocular cataracts with postop erative optical corrections with contact lenses ; a preference for round pupil with an iridotomy rather than peripheral iridectomy ; a preference for a cryoprobe rather than erisophake or forceps; an estimate of 300,000 cataract extractions in the United States in 1968 ; a trend toward the combination of fil tration procedures and cataract extractions in patients with glaucoma (certainly a topic requiring controlled studies) ; and aspiration of cataracts up to the age of 35 years. As this list of topics indicates, the discus sions were lively, and cataract surgeons in particular will be interested in the different views presented. Frank W. Newell
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIRST SOUTH AFRI CAN INTERNATIONAL OPHTHALMOLOGI-
CAL SYMPOSIUM. Edited by Maurice H. Luntz. New York, Appleton-CenturyCrofts, 1970. Clothbound, 374 pages, sub ject and author index, illustrations. Price: $23.50. The First South African International Ophthalmological Symposium was held in September, 1968, in Johannesburg. A wide diversity of subjects appealing to most oph thalmologists was chosen by the planners of the symposium and an impressive group of well-known international figures in ophthal mology was selected as moderators, speak ers, and panelists. The proceedings, a natural
446
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
outgrowth of the symposium, was published so that the material presented might be made available to all ophthalmologists in much the same form as presented. In this endeavor the editor, Professor Maurice H. Luntz, suc ceeded admirably. Price to the opening of the scientific ses sion a moving dedicatory address honoring Sir Benjamin Rycroft was given by Derrick Vail. Sir Benjamin had been made president of the symposium and his untimely death in March of 1967 was felt keenly by the world ophthalmic community. This fitting tribute by one of the world's' great ophthalmologists to another world ophthalmologist of equal repute set a high tone for the meeting. The scientific program was divided into the following subdisciplines : ( 1 ) Sympo sium on Contact Lenses; (2) Symposium on Strabismus, Pleoptics and Orthoptics; (3) Symposium on Glaucoma; (4) Cinematog raphy in Ophthalmology; (5) Symposium on the Retina; (6) Symposium on Anterior Segment Surgery; (7) Symposium on Com plications of Anterior Segment Surgery; (8) Symposium on Corneal Surgery; and (9) Symposium on Plastic and Reconstruc tive Surgery. In each instance papers were first read and then discussed. A comprehensive panel discussion with some audience participation brought each symposium to a close. The proceedings is well done, as was the symposium from which it emanated. Material is presented succinctly with a minimum of drivel. A surprising amount of new material is made available and an occasional ophthal mic pearl of great price is to be found. All in all, this proceeding makes good, solid reading for any ophthalmologist. DuPont Guerry III
REHABILITATION
COUNSELING
OF
THE
By Thomas A. Routh. Springfield, Illinois, Charles C Thomas, 1970. Clothbound, 85 pages, index. Price : $6.75. In this small book the author outlines the BLIND.
SEPTEMBER, 1970
principles essential to adequate counseling of the blind in relation to rehabilitation. He em phasizes four main phases: suggestions and recommendations mutually arrived at be tween the client and the counselor ; assisting the client to prepare himself for a chosen field of work; assisting him to enter the field ; and supervision after employment. The technique of interviewing the blind, value of group work, evaluation of client potential, importance of adjustment and mental health, are all preliminary to vocational guidance as the last step. Many blind persons are not suitable candi dates for economic rehabilitation. The author properly believes complete financial inde pendence through employment and without any form of dole to be the goal, but probably not more than 10% of the blind in the United States can be termed employable ; of these only a small percent reach complete financial independence. There is no attempt to discuss the details of rehabilitation nor specific forms of train ing for occupations ; the concern, as the title indicates, is purely with the philosophical and psychological approach to the rehabilita tive process. The book will therefore be of more interest to the social worker or psy chologist involved in training the blind than to the ophthalmologist. The latter is, or should be, familiar with most of the facts and theory elucidated. William A. Mann
L'UVEITE, PHÉNOMÈNES IMMUNOLOGIQUES ET ALLERGIQUES. Edited by R. Campinchi,
J. P. Faure, E. Bloch-Michel, and J. Haut. Paris, Masson & Cie, 1970. Paper bound, 973 pages, bibliography, seven color figures and black and white illustrations. The annual report of the French Ophthalmological Society constitutes a highlight of the ophthalmic scientific year. These reports have appeared annually since 1948 and pro vide a current review of the literature. R. Campinchi, J. P. Faure, E. Bloch-Michel,