BOOK REVIEWS

Within the field of ophthalmology, vitreoretinal surgery stands alone in that very few general ophthalmologists perform these operations. Whereas many generalists carry out trabeculectomies, oculoplastic procedures, ocular surface treatments and strabismus corrections, most do not proceed further than argon laser treatment of a retinal tear. Thus, many have only a vague and often outdated idea of how a VR surgeon spends his or her time in the operating room, and what is actually done inside the posterior segment. Vitreoretinal Surgery: Second Edition, by Thomas H Williamson (Springer), provides valuable insight.

In contrast to many multi-author books coordinated by one or more editors, this text “has been deliberately written single-handedly by the author to prevent the duplication that makes multi-author texts often unwieldy”, the preface reads.The decision was a wise one, as the book reads smoothly in a consistent tone. But let us not overlook the intended use of this book, namely “to allow a trainee or professional vitreoretinal surgeon to determine the best methodology in individual cases”.

Starting with a lucid description of the clinical examination of the eye, the text moves on to a 40-page intro to VR surgery, which covers details such as where to place the sclerotomies and how to manage peroperative complications.Legitimately useful peroperative photographs, uncomplicated drawings and high-quality fundus photographs, OCTs and fluorescein angiographies complement the text. Overall, this is a very useful book and is ideally suited for vitreoretinal fellows, but might also be useful for residents during their VR rotation as well as early-career VR surgeons and generalists looking to broaden the scope of their knowledge about this subspecialty.

USEFUL POCKET MANUAL

With the accessibility of information online, there seems to be a trend towards discarding the pocket manual for quick reference in the clinic. The Moorfields Manual of Ophthalmology: Second Edition, edited by Timothy L Jackson (JP Medical Publishers), might question the wisdom of this abandonment. This 700-page book fits into the pocket of a white lab coat. It is arranged logically, according to the ocular anatomy, which is useful for the determination of a differential diagnosis. Its clear, crisp design both accelerates the user’s search for specific pathologies, and its combination of prose and lists makes the use of the manual a pleasure. Particularly useful are the “Differential Diagnoses” lists of ocular fundus tumours and medical retinal conditions. This will become one of my more commonly used books and will join (and perhaps replace?) the Wills Eye Manual in my examination room.