Book Reviews

Diabetic Retinopathy

Gabriele E Lang (ed)

Basel: Karger, 2007.169 pp. USD$180.00. ISBN: 978-3-8055-8243-8.

Diabetic Retinopathy is one of the titles in the series ‘Devel-opments in Ophthalmology’ published by Swiss KARGER. Itsucceeds in its proposed aim of making an updated synthesisof the medical knowledge on this prevalent retinal vasculardisease. A major merit of the book is its didactic approach.The expertise of the authors (mostly Europeans authorities)is visibly translated into a readable and compact format.They successfully amalgamate basic concepts and the valueof diagnostic and therapeutic options in a clinical-orientedbook. The measured depth and extent of information pre-sented is accessible and very useful to the junior trainee, theexperienced retinal specialist as well as to the diabetologist.

The book is organized into 11 chapters. The first of thetwo initial chapters is an updated review on the pathophysi-ology of the most common cause of diabetic retinopathy-related visual loss: macular oedema. And this chapter has anemphasis on the basic-sciences, it provides sufficient knowl-edge for the clinician to understand the principles of therapy.The second chapter, ‘characterisation and relevance of dif-ferent diabetic retinopathy phenotypes’ is a good example ofthe extensive clinical/epidemiological and laboratory contri-butions of Dr Cunha-Vaz in Diabetes Ocular disease. Thethird chapter covers the applications and interpretation ofoptical coherence tomography in diabetic retinopathy –although its lack of colour illustrations is a major drawback.The last eight chapters focus on therapeutics. They rangefrom a good review of laser treatment to surgical approachesfor diffuse macular oedema and proliferative complications,as well as pharmacologic vitreolysis – but three chaptersverse on novel, non-tissue destructive approaches (e.g.thermal laser/vitrectomy), as well as methods that addressthe underlying pathological mechanisms. Such approachesinclude: (i) Protein kinase C Subtype b Inhibitor, the firstoral medication targeting diabetic retinopathy, showingreduction of visual loss in patients with moderately severe tovery severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy; (ii) Long-Acting Somatostatin Analogues that upregulate antiangio-genic signalling; and (iii) Pegaptanib, an RNA aptamer thatinactivates an isoform of VEGF and which seems to reverseto some degree the blood-retinal barrier breakdown withsome data supporting its use in diabetic macular oedema.

One chapter, written by Dr Jost Jonas (who has publishedthe most on the topic) reviews the widespread use of intra-vitreal triamcinolone acetonide and its utility in many dia-betic retinopathy complications (not only macular oedema).

Overall, the book is an excellent summary of the currentunderstanding of diabetic retinopathy. It offers very valuable,practical and evidence-based information for clinical man-agement and is a highly recommendable acquisition for anyophthalmic library.

Clairton de Souza MDGreenlane Clinical Centre, Auckland, New Zealand

Manual of Ocular Diagnosis andTherapy

Deborah Pavan-Langston (ed.)

Philadelphia PA: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, 2008.533 pp. AU$77.00. ISBN: 978-0-7817-6512-1.

The sixth edition of this pocketable text provides the latestinformation on clinical disease, diagnostic techniques andtreatments over a comprehensive range of ophthalmicsubspecialties. In just over 500 pages the 15 authors havecondensed the most pertinent and practical aspects of oph-thalmic knowledge into a useful accessible format. Rare con-ditions are covered, but not elaborated on. Management iscovered well, and compares favourably to what I wouldregard as the standard reference text in this area, the WillsEye Manual. The focus of this text is not just ophthalmicA&E; however, although I hesitate to list the chapters, I willparaphrase the topics covered which include: ocular exami-nation, trauma, lids and lacrimal, orbit, cornea, refractivesurgery, cataract, retina, uveal tract, glaucoma, paediatricophthalmology, ocular motility, neuro-ophthalmology,refraction and optics, systemic disease, systemic drugs and anup-to-date ophthalmic formulary.

Lists, bold text, plentiful diagrams and tables provide anengaging and accessible quick reference text, which is smallenough to carry day-to-day.

A total of 81 colour plates at the front of the paperbackgive way to black and white diagrams within the text, whichdespite (or because of) their lack of colour are clear anddemonstrate principles well. If compared with the Wills EyeManual or Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Illustrated

Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 2008; 36: 689–691doi: 10.1111/j.1442-9071.2008.01860.x

© 2008 The AuthorJournal compilation © 2008 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists

Manual of Ophthalmology, this text is limited by the lack ofcolour throughout, but keeping colour plates at the begin-ning certainly reduces cost, and it is less expensive than itscousins. I would like to see colour examples of the conditionson the same page they are discussed to make it a truly quickreference text, but this aside, I found it to be comprehensive,both well written and informative. 36 pages of tightly packedindex allow the clinician to delve in with ease. It reallyachieves its goal of being a manual of ocular diagnosis andtherapy.

The text would be well suited to desk copy in an oph-thalmic A&E, in the registrar’s briefcase, and every ophthal-mologist’s top drawer. The level of detail would arm thetrainee with enough information to manage a condition, thenresearch further in more comprehensive texts, and alsoprovide the practicing ophthalmologist an up-to-date refer-ence for management of conditions which may be trying toescape the synaptic bindings of day-to-day memory.

Simon Dean FRANZCO FBCLAGreenlane Clinical Centre, Auckland, New Zealand

Moorfields Manual of Ophthalmology

Timothy L Jackson (ed.)

Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier, 2008.736 pp. AUS$145.00. ISBN: 978-1-4160-2572-6.

This soft covered pocket-sized handbook is similar in styleand layout to the Oxford Handbooks of Medicine andSurgery. It essentially unites Kanski’s Clinical Ophthalmol-ogy and The Wills Eye Manual by outlining the clinicalpresentation and management of ocular conditions,respectively. The book is aimed at those treating oculardisease and appears best suited to optometrists, general prac-titioners, acute eye clinic staff, ophthalmology trainees andophthalmologists. For optometrists, each chapter containsuseful optometry and general practice management andincludes guidelines as to when to refer.

The manual comprises 14 chapters organized accordingto subspecialty. Each chapter has been written by experts intheir fields and encompasses the relevant disease entities.Excellent descriptions of examination and surgical tech-niques are included where appropriate. Disease entities arewell illustrated with high quality colour images typical of theclinical appearance.

The chapters contain valuable lists of differential diag-noses in the form of comparative tables that highlight differ-ences between the clinical entity and similar appearing orrelated conditions. Useful management algorithms are alsoincluded.

There is some variation in the presentation of conditionswherein most are presented under headings such as symp-toms, signs, investigations and treatment whereas others areoutlined in bullet points. It is unclear why both formats wereused when uniformity would have enhanced the manual interms of providing a standardized format for all clinicalentities.

The Moorfields Manual is a useful, compact reference forthose involved in the treatment of ocular disease. Whetherophthalmologists will refer to this resource or The Wills EyeManual for management advice remains to be seen.

Andrew M Thompson FRANZCODepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Auckland, Auckland,

New Zealand

Surgery for the Dry Eye

Gerd Geerling and Horst Brewitt (eds)

Basel: Karger, 2008.325 pp. $US278.00. ISBN: 978-3-8055-8376-3.

This book is a collaborative effort from ophthalmologistsspecialized in external eye disease and oculoplastic surgery aswell as maxillofacial surgeons and basic scientists. It is uniquein its emphasis on surgical management strategies for dryeye. However, despite its title, a good overview of diagnostictests and medical management of dry eye disease is alsoprovided in the first section.

A range of surgical techniques for improving tear distri-bution, reducing tear drainage and tear replacement arecovered in separate sections. However, the variation in struc-ture of the different chapters gives the book a somewhatdisjointed feel. The majority of chapters provide details ofsurgical techniques accompanied by tips on patient selectionand postoperative management. An evidence-basedapproach is mostly used, with up-to-date references. Thesurgical procedures discussed range from simple (e.g. punc-tual occlusion) to complex (e.g. insertion of mechanicalpump dacryoreservoirs).

The photographs and illustrations are ample in numberand quality, although most of the photographs in chapterscovering oculoplastic procedures are in black and white,causing incongruence with the rest of the book.

The super-specialized nature of this book makes it oflimited interest to the general ophthalmologist; however, itwould appeal to ophthalmologists with a particular interestin the specialized management of dry eye disease.

Dipika Patel PhD MRCOphthDepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Auckland, Auckland,

New Zealand

690 Book reviews

© 2008 The AuthorJournal compilation © 2008 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists