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The Ophthalmic Assistant. Fundamentals and Clinical Practice
730
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
ing as well as the eyelid surgeon desiring an overview of oculoplastic problems. Al though trying to simplify eyelid surgery with a systematic approach is useful for training purposes, I believe that in reality and practice the reader must be careful not to underestimate the complexity of eyelid surgery and the knowledge of eye lid anatomy required to perform eyelid surgery. RICHARD L. ANDERSON
The Ophthalmic Assistant. Fundamentals and Clinical Practice, 4th ed. By Harold A. Stein and Bernard J. Slatt. St. Louis, C. V. Mosby Company, 1983. Softcover, 798 pages, index, 978 figures (including 54 color plates). $32.50 With this new edition the authors have continued their tradition of producing one of the classic texts in its field. The well organized format of the pre vious editions has been maintained and 204 pages have been added since the third edition. The content is practical, comprehensive, and written in a concise manner. The first four chapters deal with the basic sciences of anatomy, physiology, optics, pharmacology, and microbiology. The next 24 chapters cover clinical prac tice and include subjects such as office efficiency, history taking, examination techniques, ophthalmic equipment, re fraction, examination procedures, contact lenses, aseptic technique, and commonly seen ocular disorders, among others. There are four chapters on special proce dures (tonography, visual fields, ocular motility, and ophthalmic photography). The next two chapters concentrate on community ocular programs. The chap ters are followed by an atlas of common eye disorders (black and white photo
MAY, 1983
graphs), appendices, a glossary, a supple mental reading list, and an index. As an ophthalmologist who has spent hundreds of hours in teaching ophthalmic assistants and technicians over the last 15 years and has used this text extensively since its first edition in 1968, I strongly recommend that even those who have the third edition will find this new edition worth purchasing. Let me summarize my reasons for this recommendation. New sections include the following: (1) 54 beautifully reproduced color external and fundus photographs of commonly seen eye disorders; (2) two excellent chapters entitled "Highlights of Ophthal mic Surgery" and "Common Retinal Dis orders," and (3) "Answers, Notes and Explanations" following the question sec tions at the end of each chapter. Additionally, expanded or rewritten sections include an excellent chapter on ophthalmic photography (32 pages as compared to 12 pages in the third edi tion), the three chapters on contact lens es, the basic science chapters, and the list of supplemental readings (including old and new items with each listing carefully chosen). The chapter, "Current Techniques in Ophthalmology," has been deleted, and the pertinent subjects are appropriately included in their more proper place else where in the text. The black and white photographs in the text are of high quality reproduction. The tables, charts, and line drawings are per tinent and effectively done. The index continues to be comprehensive, which enhances the use of the text as a refer ence source. In a future edition I would like to see better reproduction of the black and white photographs in the atlas, the atlas and color plates referenced appropriately in the context, a section on computed
VOL. 95, NO. 5
BOOK REVIEWS
tomography, and, in the basic science section, an expanded chapter on anatomy and added chapters on embryology and ophthalmic pathology. One might infer from these remarks that I see no restric tions in what these authors can provide and, with some pragmatic limitations, this is true. Albeit, the current work is superb and a worthy successor to the previous editions. The text will be a delight not only to ophthalmic assistants, technicians, and technologists, but also to medical stu dents, family practitioners, nurses, opti cians, contact lens technicians, and to company representatives of the pharma ceutical, optical, and equipment supply industries. C H A R L O T T E W.
HILL
Tumors of the Eye and Ocular Adnexae (a unique self-instructional text). By Rob ert H. Sagerman and David H. Abramson. New York, Pergamon Press, Inc., 1983. Softcover, 249 pages, bibli ography, index, 140 black and white figures, study guide, test, comment sheet. $100 This book contains three distinct parts. A self-instruction text, with questions and the authors' answers, comprises the first part. The second part contains a study guide that has questions for each frame, and space for the reader's answer. The third part is a posttesting for the reader. The answers may be sent in for grading for continuing education credits. This unique book has an interesting for mat for self-evaluation and the opportuni ty of receiving continuing education cred its. The text is part of a 17-volume series. This type of self-testing is difficult in ophthalmologic oncology because of con siderable controversy concerning the
731
management of many of these lesions. This text suffers in part because the sen ior author is a radiologist, and his bias is evident. This is an excellent book for residents learning ocular oncology, and as a means to earn more C M E credits. It is not intended as a reference text. The $100 price includes grading for continuing ed ucation credit. FREDERICK T.
FRAUNFELDER
SYMPOSIA The S-Potential. Progress in Clinical and Biological Research, vol. 113. Edited by Boris D. Drujan and Miguel Laufer. New York, Alan R. Liss, Inc., 1982. Hardcover, 364 pages, index, 165 black and white figures. $60 This book commemorates Gunnar Svaetichin (1915-1981), who first de scribed recordings of intracellular poten tials from the fish retina. The S-potential, the characteristic electrical potential of horizontal cells to illumination, is named for him. Svaetichin used intracellular mi cropipette electrodes to measure the re sponses of individual retinal cells. He discovered cells which are depolarized in the dark and which hyperpolarize during illumination. His studies are important in understanding the opponent processes of color vision. Svaetichin's work has led to extraordinary advances in understanding how the vertebrate retina works. MACNICHOL,
E.
F.,
JR.:
The
discovery of
the
S-potential and its influence in the development of retinal physiology. Something was fishy in Los Altos de Pipe GALLEGO, A.: retina
Horizontal cells of the tetrapode
PARTHE, V. : Horizontal cells in the teleost retina STELL, W.
K.,
KRETZ, R.,
AND LIGHTFOOT,
O. : Horizontal cell connectivity in goldfish
D.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
ing as well as the eyelid surgeon desiring an overview of oculoplastic problems. Al though trying to simplify eyelid surgery with a systematic approach is useful for training purposes, I believe that in reality and practice the reader must be careful not to underestimate the complexity of eyelid surgery and the knowledge of eye lid anatomy required to perform eyelid surgery. RICHARD L. ANDERSON
The Ophthalmic Assistant. Fundamentals and Clinical Practice, 4th ed. By Harold A. Stein and Bernard J. Slatt. St. Louis, C. V. Mosby Company, 1983. Softcover, 798 pages, index, 978 figures (including 54 color plates). $32.50 With this new edition the authors have continued their tradition of producing one of the classic texts in its field. The well organized format of the pre vious editions has been maintained and 204 pages have been added since the third edition. The content is practical, comprehensive, and written in a concise manner. The first four chapters deal with the basic sciences of anatomy, physiology, optics, pharmacology, and microbiology. The next 24 chapters cover clinical prac tice and include subjects such as office efficiency, history taking, examination techniques, ophthalmic equipment, re fraction, examination procedures, contact lenses, aseptic technique, and commonly seen ocular disorders, among others. There are four chapters on special proce dures (tonography, visual fields, ocular motility, and ophthalmic photography). The next two chapters concentrate on community ocular programs. The chap ters are followed by an atlas of common eye disorders (black and white photo
MAY, 1983
graphs), appendices, a glossary, a supple mental reading list, and an index. As an ophthalmologist who has spent hundreds of hours in teaching ophthalmic assistants and technicians over the last 15 years and has used this text extensively since its first edition in 1968, I strongly recommend that even those who have the third edition will find this new edition worth purchasing. Let me summarize my reasons for this recommendation. New sections include the following: (1) 54 beautifully reproduced color external and fundus photographs of commonly seen eye disorders; (2) two excellent chapters entitled "Highlights of Ophthal mic Surgery" and "Common Retinal Dis orders," and (3) "Answers, Notes and Explanations" following the question sec tions at the end of each chapter. Additionally, expanded or rewritten sections include an excellent chapter on ophthalmic photography (32 pages as compared to 12 pages in the third edi tion), the three chapters on contact lens es, the basic science chapters, and the list of supplemental readings (including old and new items with each listing carefully chosen). The chapter, "Current Techniques in Ophthalmology," has been deleted, and the pertinent subjects are appropriately included in their more proper place else where in the text. The black and white photographs in the text are of high quality reproduction. The tables, charts, and line drawings are per tinent and effectively done. The index continues to be comprehensive, which enhances the use of the text as a refer ence source. In a future edition I would like to see better reproduction of the black and white photographs in the atlas, the atlas and color plates referenced appropriately in the context, a section on computed
VOL. 95, NO. 5
BOOK REVIEWS
tomography, and, in the basic science section, an expanded chapter on anatomy and added chapters on embryology and ophthalmic pathology. One might infer from these remarks that I see no restric tions in what these authors can provide and, with some pragmatic limitations, this is true. Albeit, the current work is superb and a worthy successor to the previous editions. The text will be a delight not only to ophthalmic assistants, technicians, and technologists, but also to medical stu dents, family practitioners, nurses, opti cians, contact lens technicians, and to company representatives of the pharma ceutical, optical, and equipment supply industries. C H A R L O T T E W.
HILL
Tumors of the Eye and Ocular Adnexae (a unique self-instructional text). By Rob ert H. Sagerman and David H. Abramson. New York, Pergamon Press, Inc., 1983. Softcover, 249 pages, bibli ography, index, 140 black and white figures, study guide, test, comment sheet. $100 This book contains three distinct parts. A self-instruction text, with questions and the authors' answers, comprises the first part. The second part contains a study guide that has questions for each frame, and space for the reader's answer. The third part is a posttesting for the reader. The answers may be sent in for grading for continuing education credits. This unique book has an interesting for mat for self-evaluation and the opportuni ty of receiving continuing education cred its. The text is part of a 17-volume series. This type of self-testing is difficult in ophthalmologic oncology because of con siderable controversy concerning the
731
management of many of these lesions. This text suffers in part because the sen ior author is a radiologist, and his bias is evident. This is an excellent book for residents learning ocular oncology, and as a means to earn more C M E credits. It is not intended as a reference text. The $100 price includes grading for continuing ed ucation credit. FREDERICK T.
FRAUNFELDER
SYMPOSIA The S-Potential. Progress in Clinical and Biological Research, vol. 113. Edited by Boris D. Drujan and Miguel Laufer. New York, Alan R. Liss, Inc., 1982. Hardcover, 364 pages, index, 165 black and white figures. $60 This book commemorates Gunnar Svaetichin (1915-1981), who first de scribed recordings of intracellular poten tials from the fish retina. The S-potential, the characteristic electrical potential of horizontal cells to illumination, is named for him. Svaetichin used intracellular mi cropipette electrodes to measure the re sponses of individual retinal cells. He discovered cells which are depolarized in the dark and which hyperpolarize during illumination. His studies are important in understanding the opponent processes of color vision. Svaetichin's work has led to extraordinary advances in understanding how the vertebrate retina works. MACNICHOL,
E.
F.,
JR.:
The
discovery of
the
S-potential and its influence in the development of retinal physiology. Something was fishy in Los Altos de Pipe GALLEGO, A.: retina
Horizontal cells of the tetrapode
PARTHE, V. : Horizontal cells in the teleost retina STELL, W.
K.,
KRETZ, R.,
AND LIGHTFOOT,
O. : Horizontal cell connectivity in goldfish
D.