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At some point around this time of the year, many ophthalmologists will make a New Year’s resolution to read more. Keeping abreast of new speciality books, keeping a closer eye on published research or updating knowledge about what’s happening at the cutting edge of any sub-speciality would almost certainly involve a trip to a good book shop.

In the information-rich environment in which ophthalmology is immersed, even with a good bookshop or internet connection, searching for the best book is not an easy task.
To help point ophthalmologists in the right direction, EuroTimes presents a selection of recent publications across different aspects and segments of the eye for those seeking to update their reference shelf or enrich their hospital library.

For the anterior segment:

Phako, Phakonit & Laser Phako: A quest for the best
Edited by Sunita Agarwal, Athiya Agarwal, Amar Agarwal
Consultant: Benjamin F Boyd
Associate Editor: Samuel Boyd
Highlights of Ophthalmology, Panama, 2002
Hardback / 534 pages / 300 figures
ISBN: 9962-613-10-8 / $195.00

THIS is a richly illustrated book that takes an in-depth look at phacoemulsification and its derived techniques. An alternative title could have been, “Everything you wanted to know about phaco and never dared to ask”.
Three members of the Agarwal family (Sunita, MS, Athiya, MD, and Amar, MS), join efforts again to edit this comprehensive look at the world of phacoemulsification. A list of more than 50 names from all over the world joins them as contributing authors. As usual, in this series Benjamin Boyd MD and Samuel Boyd MD figure as consultant and associate editors, respectively.

The 47 chapters of the book are organised in sections which loosely deal with phacoemulsification and its less well-known derivations.
The book begins with the basic preoperative assessment before cataract extraction, a trip through the mechanisms and principles of the phacoemulsification machine, and the basic procedures of the technique: incision, capsulorhexis and hydro dissection.
The full display of phacoemulsification techniques are presented next, including refractive correction, stop and shop, clear lens extraction with karate chop, tilt and tumble, and lens quake phacoemulsification. Under the section on new phaco technologies, we find YAG laser phacoemulsification, sonic phaco, and the Staar wave system.

Section III presents phacoemulsification in difficult situations, including the use of dyes for mature white and other difficult cataracts, miotic and small pupils, phacoemulsification in vitrectomised eyes, and paediatric cataracts.
The book then moves into the less well established ‘cousin’ techniques: phacoemulsification without anaesthesia; “Phakonit,” a technique created by Dr Amar Agarwal which consists of phacoemulsification through a 1.0 mm incision; micro-phacoemulsification with two 0.8 mm stab incisions; and laser phacoemulsification, which promises less trauma and faster rehabilitation. Each technique is described in detail. When available, clinical data from pilot studies are provided.

To finish, different authors review foldable IOLs, prevention of PCO, presbyopia correction with accommodative lenses, rollable IOLs and IOL clip. And of course, there’s a chapter on complications, and how to manage them.
The main asset of this book is its comprehensiveness; both regarding present clinical practice and looking ahead at what may be the future of a fast evolving tool for cataract surgery.

For those of us with mainly visual memory, the many diagrams, photographs and summary tables are a clear bonus. All chapters are referred and full contents and index pages make navigation of the book’s 500 pages relatively easy.

For the posterior segment:

Retinal and vitreoretinal surgery:
Mastering the latest techniques
Editor in chief: Benjamin F Boyd
Co-editor: Samuel Boyd /
Co-editor English edition: Robert C Drews
Highlights of Ophthalmology, Panama, 2002
Hardback / 566 pages / 350 figures
ISBN: 9962-613-06-X / $ 185.00

THIS elegant volume is so proud of its illustrious list of expert contributors that it lists them on the front cover. All 48 of them.
The editor in chief is Benjamin Boyd MD, currently Emeritus Professor at the University of Panama School of Medicine. His co-editor, Samuel Boyd MD, is the Associate Editor of Highlights of Ophthalmology, and is also based in Panama.
For the English edition (this book is also published in Spanish), the Boyds added a further co-editor, Robert C. Drews MD, Professor Emeritus at the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri, US.

The many images that illustrate this complete review of retinal surgery are either ultrasound images, fundus photographs or excellent artist-drawn diagrams.
In an attempt to help us introduce ourselves to the inside world of the eye, the dominant colours are orange over a dark background. After spending sometime looking at this book, you feel like you have spent the afternoon inside an eye.
Section one presents diagnostic techniques, from direct fundus exploration, ultrasound and tomography to the use of fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography.

Its practical approach is enhanced by sections such as one that describes the angiographic interpretations of most common pathological conditions.
The next section presents the practical aspects and techniques of laser photocoagulation. The use of gases and perfluorocarbon liquids in vitreoretinal surgery follows.
Two thirds into the text, we get into retinal and vitreoretinal disease properly. Vascular disease comes first. The book covers in detail diabetic retinopathy and its treatment with photocoagulation, vitreous diabetes, diabetic complications and retinal vein occlusions.

Maculopathies come next. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), its laser treatment, photodynamic therapy and surgical management, all have chapters of their own. Serous chorioretinopathy, cystoid macular oedema (CM0) and other maculapathies follow.

Retinal detachment has its own full section. Complex cases, including giant retinal tears, and management of complications complete the text. Dislocated IOLs and retinal complications after refractive surgery are also dealt with in individual chapters.
All illustrations have detailed legends. On many pages, the legends take priority over the regular text. Most chapters are referred, with different interpretations of what is up to date.

This book is useful if you want to find out what the experts in the field think you should do in each situation. If you like to be shown what to do, as well as to read about it, this book is for you.

For more additions to your 2003 Bookshelf, see next month’s issue of EuroTimes.

Like to read previous "In your good books" columns? Visit the archive here.

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