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Show journal of Neiiro- Oplitlialmologi/ 16( 4): 295- 296, 1996. Book Reviews Management of Strabismus and Amblyopia/ Practical Guide, by John A. Pratt- Johnson and Geraldine Tillson. Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., New York, 1994, $ 45.00 Type of Book: This is a general text on strabismus and amblyopia. Its patient- oriented approach makes it concise reading and a good teaching tool. For the pediatric ophthalmologist or for the neuro-ophthalmologist, it will serve as an agreeable review. Each chapter is succinct- no chapter is more than 15 pages. The diagrams and photos incorporated in the book serve to support the text. Each chapter is devoted to concisely summarizing one specific aspect of strabismus or amblyopia. Scope of Book: The forward of the book states that it is planned as a practical day- to- day guide in the clinical care of patients, designed for the practicing ophthalmologist, resident, or ophthalmic assistant. Its concise nature allows it to serve also for pediatricians or family practice physicians. Contents: The book has 20 chapters. Each chapter deals with one specific clinical problem. A typical chapter is short and succinctly covers all aspects of clinical significance in the area addressed. The glossary divides terms into 10 separate sections, with definitions that are simple and easily understood. Strengths: The book is an excellent source of immediate information for the busy clinician. It also serves as a good general instruction text for review. The concise chapters allow the reader to quickly find the subject of interest and to obtain immediate assistance. The book could be viewed as a first- step pediatric ophthalmology consultation for the general ophthalmologist. Weaknesses: The fault of the book is probably its strength; while it is concise, the ophthalmologist might be looking for a textbook that covers topics in further detail and depth. Moreover, a neuro-ophthalmologist may not be seeking a text that emphasizes strabismus surgery, as this one does. The neurologic aspects of strabismus are not addressed in depth. Recommended Audience: This text is a good resource for a general ophthalmologist, an ophthalmology resident, an ophthalmic technician, or a general practitioner. © 1996 Lippincott- Raven Publishers, Philadelphia Barrett Katz, MD Critical Appraisal: Given the plethora of pediatric ophthalmology textbooks, it is difficult to imagine that another text could be welcomed. However, this book does fulfill a role that has been lacking up to now. For an individual looking for a concise clinical approach to strabismus and amblyopia, this volume is a valuable tool as a practical guide. For those needing further detail in pediatric ophthalmology or in neuro- ophthalmology, other sources need be consulted. David B. Werner, M. D. Central Pennsylvania Eye Associates State College, Pennsylvania Practical Atlas of Retinal Disease and Therapy, by William R. Freeman. Raven Press, New York, 1993, $ 173.50 Type of Book: The preface to this atlas states, " The Practical Atlas of Retinal Disease and Therapy was designed to combine the best features of traditional atlases and textbooks." This book was meant to give the ophthalmologist an overview of retinal disease and treatment in one volume. Scope of Book: The atlas was intended to be practical. Each section has been written by an expert in the field, and each chapter has been designed as a stand- alone reference, providing a comprehensive overview of the subject. The atlas provides the clinical presentation, presumed pathogenesis, histopa-thology, and practical treatment of each retinal disorder. Contents: The book is divided into 18 chapters. The first 10 focus on medical retina; the last eight address topics in surgical retina. The chapters devoted to medical retina cover chorioretinal dystrophies, inflammatory and infectious diseases, tumors, retinal vascular diseases, and age- related macular degeneration. Almost every chapter offers something of interest to the neuro- ophthalmologist. For example, the chapter " Uveitis Affecting the Retina and Posterior Segment," by Alan H. Friedman, provides a wonderful clinicopathologic example of optic nerve sarcoidosis. The chapters discussing surgical retina review some of the latest 295 296 BOOK REVIEWS vitreoretinal surgical techniques; these chapters will be less interesting to the neuro- ophthalmologic community. Strengths: The strength of this book is the quick, comprehensive overview of many of the most important topics and latest developments in clinical retina. There are more than 600 color photographs, many of which are exquisite examples of the disease entities. The chapters draw heavily on the clinical experience of the authors, providing a practical approach to complex disease entities. Weaknesses: Some of the chapters are more clinically relevant than others. The chapter on new devices for retinal imaging focuses more on scanning laser technology than is necessary for a practical atlas. Because the chapters are short, some of the topics are covered in a cursory manner. For example, central serous chorioretinopathy is only briefly covered as a differential diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration. The neuro-ophthalmologist may desire greater detail in the discussions than are presented here. Recommended Audience: This atlas serves as an excellent guide for residents, general ophthalmolog i s t s , and retina specialists. The neuro-ophthalmologist, too, would find this a useful book to quickly summarize the important details of a retinal disorder or technique. Critical Appraisal: The goal of this book was to provide an up- to- date, concise, yet informative overview of retinal disorders. The atlas succeeds in this goal. The authors are able to distill the essence of many complex retinal diseases and their practical management in an easy- to- understand fashion. Donald Park, M. D. University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa The Headaches, edited by J. Olesen, P. Tfelt- Hansen, K. M. A. Welch. Raven Press, New York, 1993, $ 100.00 Type of Book: For this multi- authored monograph, the editors have assembled an international group of experts to produce 125 chapters on the subject of headache. Scope of Book: Virtually all aspects of headache are addressed, from history to basic science to clinical management. Contents: The International Headache Society classification is used throughout, although individual authors are not afraid to point out the limitations of this system in their discussions. As would be expected, migraine receives the lion's share of attention, though there are eight chapters on cluster headaches and many individual chapters that deal with special issues; e. g., headache in children or in the elderly, post- traumatic headache, and headache in the emergency room. Strengths: The comprehensiveness of this volume makes it a valuable reference, and the use of multinational authorship provides a window for North American readers into the differences in the pharmacological treatment of headache in Europe and elsewhere. The editors have largely succeeded in taming the diversity of using multiple authors by adhering to a set format for each chapter's organization. Weaknesses: The length and lack of a single perspective makes this book difficult to read cover to cover. Occasionally, statements appear that seem overly dogmatic, for example, " All patients with retinal migraine should be placed on prophylactic anti- migrainous therapy" ( p. 425) or " All patients with the clinical diagnosis of migraine with aura should undergo an imaging study" ( p. 434). As with any review published in book form, some new observations, such as the recent description of enhancement of the cisternal segment of the third nerve on MRI in ophthalmoplegic migraine, did not make the publishing deadline. Recommended Audience: This work can serve as a useful resource for any physician or medical student interested in headache. Critical Appraisal: As a detailed overview of a common and important clinical problem, The Headaches succeeds admirably. John W. Gittinger, Jr., M. D. University of Massachusetts Worcester, Massachusetts / Neiiro- Ophtlmlmol, Vol. 16, No. 4, 1996 |
