RAPID REVIEW

There are no secrets in ophthalmology, at least not regarding information known by some doctors and unavailable to others. That is the beauty of medicine: discoveries are eagerly shared, and the discoverers are rewarded for their efforts.

Nevertheless, the Ophthalmology Secrets (Elsevier) series, now in its fourth edition, has made a name for itself as a go-to study guide for trainee ophthalmologists who are preparing for exams. The question-and-answer format (“How is Coats’ disease managed?”, for example) lends itself perfectly to collaborative study, with answers given in concise prose. As opposed to bullet-style lists, prose is likely to improve retention. Prose also allows the reader to prepare practice replies for oral examination or quizzing in the clinic.

Edited by Janice A Gault and James F Vander, each of the 52 chapters was written by subspecialists. The chapters average 30 or so questions, progressing from the very simple (“What is proptosis?”) early in the chapter, to the complex later in the chapter, interspersed with the rather obscure (“Can posterior polymorphous membrane dystrophy recur in a corneal graft?”). Chapter headings include clinical presentations, such as “The Red Eye”; specific pathologies, such as “Retinopathy of Prematurity”; and clusters, such as “Miscellaneous Optic Neuropathies and Neurological Disturbances”.

The book can be used not only for exam prep, but also for refreshing one’s memory of the management of less frequently encountered entities, and for rapidly reviewing a particular topic prior to attending a lecture. Medical students, trainees and general ophthalmologists can all benefit. Just make sure to hide it from your three-to-five-year-old daughter, as the pink accents on the cover will make her want to own it.

PRESBYOPIA THERAPIES

Presbyopia: Therapies and Further Prospects (self-published by Alain N Gilg) is a comprehensive review of presbyopia, from the biological etiology to the past, current and future treatment options. Starting with accommodation, that which is lost in presbyopia, Dr Gilg discusses the mechanism in depth, preparing the reader for the logic behind the many solutions that have been proposed throughout time.

Optical compensations, such as spectacles, contact lenses, orthokeratology, laser refractive surgeries, phakic intraocular lenses (IOLs), intracorneal rings and inlays receive their own chapter. However, Dr Gilg is most interested in true accommodative restoration, such as accommodative IOLs, lenticular refilling and his own, patented invention, the cilio zonular tension ring (CZTR).

A reader could do worse than start here for a detailed look at presbyopia.