Media Type: Textbook (Hard Cover)

Synopsis: The role of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in the diagnosis and treatment of retinal pathology has been well-established. Although anterior segment OCT was first demonstrated by Izatt and co-authors in 1994, its utilization has been less common until more recently. The first of its kind, Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography , provides a very comprehensive analysis of this newer technology, including the fundamentals and its numerous anterior segment applications. This collaboration provides an excellent blend of instruction, didactics and numerous illustrative examples demonstrating the current state-of-the-art applications of anterior segment OCT.

Target Audience: Comprehensive ophthalmologists, cataract, refractive and/or glaucoma surgeons.

Review: Dr. Roger Steinert is a key acknowledged leader in the field of cataract, corneal and refractive surgeries. Dr. David Huang is a main co-inventor of optical coherence tomography, which was developed a decade and half ago at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In collaboration with the 22 contributing authors, Drs. Steinert and Huang have created the first comprehensive textbook for the utilization of anterior segment OCT.

The book is divided into 16 chapters. It begins with the background and fundamentals of anterior segment OCT and finishes with the future direction of the technology. The body of the book covers the clinical applications of anterior segment OCT in 3 general sections: corneal and refractive surgeries, glaucoma, and other anterior segment applications. It thoroughly discusses keratoconus assessment, LASIK flaps, corneal surgical planning, usefulness with corneal opacities, and various corneal lamellar implants and intracorneal ring segments. Given the importance of the anterior chamber angle in glaucoma, two chapters are dedicated to OCT evaluation in glaucoma. Lastly, other anterior segment applications discussed include its usefulness in the evaluation of phakic lens implant technology, anterior segment tumors, and cataract and pseudophakos status.

The information presented in the book provides a thorough analysis of the various purposes of anterior segment OCT, which is relevant regardless of which specific device is used. Most of the instructional information for certain applications, ie, protocol setup for anterior segment angle examination, is geared for the Zeiss Visante OCT, which is one of the two currently FDA-approved anterior segment OCT machines. The book is well-illustrated, demonstrating numerous color photographs and their OCT counterparts.

Criticisms of this book are few and minor. As books with multiple illustrations often have, there are some pages of empty space, where the illustration descriptions are separated from their images because the pages could not fit both onto the same page. This is a small price to pay for the authors’ efforts to visually demonstrate the uses of this technology.

In summary, this book presents the current state-of-the-art of anterior segment OCT. It is particularly useful in the realms and future direction of corneal/refractive surgery (phakic lens implants, corneal lamellar inlays and ring segments) and non-contact glaucoma evaluation/management. Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography does a very nice job filling the void that exists in ophthalmologic literature for this exciting, progressive technology.