Book Reviews by Dr Leigh Spielberg with focus on cornea

LEARN, RETAIN 
AND TEST KNOWLEDGE A question-and-answer format is for some the best way to learn, retain, and test knowledge and mastery of a subject. Curbside Consultation in Cornea and External Disease (Slack), edited by Francis W Price Jr, consists of 49 very common clinical questions and their evidence-based answers. These questions are posed as they might be on an examination, or as a clinician might pose them to himself or herself while seeing patients. One consultation asks: “How should I treat a patient with red eye and photophobia if my exam reveals meibomian gland dysfunction and foci of subepithelial infiltrates at the limbus?” Another consultation begins: “A piece of glass flew into my patient’s eye. The exam shows central cornea perforation <1mm in diameter. The anterior chamber is shallow, but formed. How should I close this wound?” These are cases that we see on a very regular basis, and the solutions are written as an experienced mentor would answer them. The book is perfect for residents, cornea fellows, and early-career ophthalmologists. Current Treatment Options for Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy (Springer), edited by Claus Cursiefen and Albert S Jun, describes the current state-of-the-art of every current and potential treatment modality for FED. However, the primary focus is the surgical approach - whether DSAEK, DMEK, or DALK, modern minimally invasive lamellar transplant techniques remain at the forefront. Not only are the surgical techniques clearly described, but also those of the eye bank, donor preparation and the management of post-surgical complications, surgical failures and repeat surgery. Particularly interesting is the chapter on the evolution of the surgical approach – from penetrating keratoplasty to Descemet’s membrane endothelial transfer. This provides the reader with an insight into the pros and cons of each technique, allowing him or her to make the best choice on a case-by-case basis. This book is intended for cornea fellows and cornea specialists who are interested in honing their skills based on the most recent advances in the field. KERATOCONUS CARE BENEFITS FROM NEW DEVELOPMENTS Recent advances in the surgical treatment of keratoconus, whether via implants or crosslinking, seem to have revived interest in this challenging condition. Thus the timely relevance of Keratoconus: Recent Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment (Springer), edited by Jorge L Alió. This is part of the Essentials in Ophthalmology series, in which each volume focuses on one specific topic. This allows the reader to get up-to-date on a subject of his or her choice in an efficient manner. Each chapter is written as a mini-summary of the most recent and significant developments in the literature. This book is primarily intended for corneal specialists, but general ophthalmologists can learn a great deal, especially regarding diagnostic tools, so as not to accidentally underdiagnose keratoconus, or to miss it before performing laser refractive surgery. In this sense, Chapter 11, ‘Early Keratoconus Detection Enhanced by Modern Diagnostic Technology’, is crucial in order to prevent disastrous iatrogenic damage.

Tags: cornea