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Show Journal of Neuro- Ophthalmology 18( 2): 161, 1998. © 1998 Lippincoll- Ravcn Publishers, Philadelphia BOOKS IN BRIEF Barrett Katz, M. D. Diagnostic Problems in Clinical Ophthalmology, edited by C. E. Margo, L. M. Hamed, and R. N. Mames. W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 1994, $ 49.95. The editors have recruited 128 authors to write 105 brief reviews. These are accompanied by good quality black and white illustrations and an adequate bibliography, the majority of sources drawn from the American literature of the 1980' s. Common diagnostic problems in all subspecialties of ophthalmology are addressed. Each chapter covers one topic and includes a section on diagnostic pitfalls. Eighteen chapters are grouped under neuro- ophthalmology; accommodative insufficiency and monocular diplopia are considered miscellaneous conditions. There is a remarkable amount of useful information here, condensed into many of the reviews. The authors ( most of whom are recognizable experts in their fields) offer succinct advice on diagnostic problems. The volume is well produced; errors are rare. Though the depth of coverage is necessarily limited and treatment issues are often not addressed, the book provides a useful and concise accounting of problems commonly encountered. Subspecialists will find the discussions outside their field of expertise most useful. As a single- volume reference text that summarizes and illustrates much of the recent literature in clinical ophthalmology, this text will be of value to residents and practicing ophthalmologists as a source for review and timely update. Diagnostic Problems in Clinical Ophthalmology accomplishes what its editors set out to do: it provides in one volume " a useful reference source for physicians in pursuit of a correct diagnosis." John W. Gittinger, Jr., M. D. Worcester, Massachusetts Orbital Surgery: A Conceptual Approach, by J. Root-man, B. Stewart and R. A. Goldberg. Lippincott- Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, 1995, $ 225.00. With his collaborators Bruce Stewart and Robert Alan Goldberg, Dr. Rootman has created a book, which, like his earlier Diseases of the Orbit: A Multidisciplinary Approach ( Lippincott, 1988), is a mandatory addition to the orbital surgeon's library. In this meaningful contribution, the authors have organized a nearly 20 year experience from the University of British Columbia Orbit Clinic into pathophysiologic and clinicopathologic categories that are at once comprehensive and understandable. The selected clinical case presentations are unique and universal in their instructiveness. The artistic renderings of orbital anatomy and surgical approaches stand alone as works of art while providing a conceptual framework and map for the complex realm of orbital surgery. This work presents a profound commitment to detail in association with a grasp of the larger picture. It is a beautiful blend of the art and science of the practice of surgery. A true labor of love, this book is a " must read" for ophthalmology residents as well as aspiring and expert orbital surgeons. It is an enduring tribute to the authors' expertise, dedication, and generosity in sharing their knowledge and experience. William A. Stewart San Francisco, California 161 |
