Media Type: Textbook, Online text and image bank

Synopsis: The latest edition of Shields Textbook of Glaucoma now features full-color illustrations and online access to the full text and image bank. Readers will not be disappointed as the book is well-organized and easy to reference. The authors have done an excellent job of creating a cohesive textbook without redundancy and contradictions. A copy of this classic textbook belongs on every ophthalmologist’s bookshelf.

Target Audience: General ophthalmologists and glaucoma specialists.

Review: The 6 ^th edition of Shields Textbook of Glaucoma will be released almost 30 years after the first textbook of its kind in 1982. With this latest edition, the ability to have convenient access to the full text online and image bank adds tremendous value to clinicians seeking for a quick reference. The textbook has over 600 pages of valuable insights on all aspects of glaucoma and its management. The authors have extracted and condensed extensive knowledge from the literature as evidenced by the complete bibliographic listing after each chapter.

The book is divided into 3 sections: basic aspects of glaucoma, clinical forms of glaucoma, and management of glaucoma. For the 6 ^th edition, the authors have also added two new chapters—Chapter 8: Molecular Genetics and Pharmacogenomics of Glaucomas, and Chapter 9: Clinical Epidemiology of Glaucoma. The tables and figures in Chapter 8 do an outstanding job of unifying the current genes identified in glaucoma. Chapter 9 poignantly sends home the message of the worldwide burden from preventable vision loss from glaucoma and the projected increase in glaucoma as the aging population grows in the United States.

One of the most challenging conditions to manage for the practicing ophthalmologist is the glaucoma suspect, and Chapter 10 gives a concise algorithm and approach that can be easily applied in the clinical setting. Chapters 13, 14, and 40 focus on childhood glaucoma and include many exquisite full-color photos of ophthalmic findings in pediatric glaucoma.

Section III of the book is dedicated to the management of glaucoma, beginning with an introduction into the principles of medical therapy and concludes with timely discussions around novel surgical interventions, such as canaloplasty, and combined surgical approach to managing cataract and glaucoma. The chapters in this section offer excellent illustrations of surgical technique and where appropriate, color photos taken during surgery. The authors deserve high praise for this expertly updated and wonderfully illustrated comprehensive textbook on glaucoma.