Books with special focus on glaucoma, reviewed by Leigh Spielberg MD

HANDBOOK IS SHORT AND SWEET Glaucoma – the title 
says it all. Short and sweet. Edited by C.E. Traverso, I. Stalmans, F. Topouzis and L. Bagnasco and published by Karger, Glaucoma is the 8th volume in the European School for Advanced Studies in Ophthalmology (ESASO) Course Series. The ESASO Course Series books are introductory-style texts that are based on interactive lectures given on each broad topic in ophthalmology. This 125-page handbook is a collection of the most important facts required to diagnose and treat patients with glaucoma. With chapter titles such as 'Visual Field Examination in Glaucoma: Detection and Progression of Disease' and 'Laser Treatment in Glaucoma', one need not expect to read the most arcane details and most recent experimental findings. Instead, what one can expect after having read this book is to be well-versed in everything one absolutely needs to know. What I found most useful as a non-glaucoma specialist was the very clear tables outlining landmark studies like the the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS); overviews of the precise intraocular pressure decrease that can be expected from each of the available topical medications; and therapeutical algorithms for glaucoma treatment, from first-choice monotherapy to surgical solutions. The information on laser treatments was particularly illuminating. Glaucoma is intended for medical students who are considering a career in ophthalmology and would like to impress their supervisors during an ophthalmology rotation; residents who need to brush up on their knowledge and skills before participating in glaucoma clinics, assisting during glaucoma surgery or taking an exam; and new glaucoma fellows who want to make sure they have solid fundamentals before diving into their training. This book series can be used as a refresher for those who have internalised the AAO series and would like to be reminded of the critical points. VIDEOS PROVIDE A GREAT LEARNING TOOL Observation is a great way to learn, and since we stay trainees forever, videos are the next best thing. Gonioscopy: A Video-Assisted Skill Transfer Approach (Jaypee) comprises an interactive, 45-minute DVD-ROM containing 137 videos and a slim book which catalogues the videos and describes each one in a short paragraph. Of the 137 videos, 111 are detailed gonioscopic examinations. The remaining 26 are self-assessment video quizzes. The videos are conveniently grouped into five categories: 1. Developmental Anomalies, such as posterior embryotoxic; 2. Open-Angle Glaucoma, including videos of 'normal' examinations in primary open-angle glaucoma and less common occurrences such as pigment clumps in uveitis; 3. Angle Closure Glaucoma, which shows viewers precisely how to open the angle in a primary angle-closure patient; 4. Secondary Glaucoma, with more than 30 videos such as cyclodialysis and hyperoleon; and 5. Intraoperative Techniques, such as goniosynechiolysis. This video set is meant for residents, glaucoma fellows and general ophthalmologists who wish they had paid more attention during their residency.