Media Type: Textbook

Synopsis: While in this age of information overload no single textbook is an absolute must-have, this one sure comes close. Drs. Yanoff and Duker have assembled a host of section editors and writers that read like a Who’s Who of ophthalmology, guiding and coordinating their efforts to produce a unique and definitive reference source for ophthalmology. This extraordinary textbook is backed by a fast and user-friendly Elsevier website, www.expertconsultbook.com , which allows purchasers Internet access to the text, featuring a very efficient search function that enables the user to rapidly access information.

Target Audience: General and specialist ophthalmologists; ophthalmology residents in training; non-ophthalmologist physicians

Review: Great care has been taken in presenting information in well-organized, color-coded sections that cover every conceivable topic while avoiding repetition. The scope of the textbook is limited only by the practical limitation of size for a one-volume work. Basic visual science and clinical ophthalmology are seamlessly integrated with standardized chapter organization, with chapters arranged by scientific topic, surgical procedure, diagnostic testing, and/or disease.

Ophthalmology, 3 ^rd edition , has thousands of superb illustrations: high-quality clinical and histopathology photographs, angiograms, radiographs, tables, and a multitude of beautiful digital-generated drawings from Antbits Illustration.

There is not much to criticize about this textbook. There is little information presented on the use of ophthalmic medications in pregnancy. In particular, it would be worth mentioning that the parent compound of ophthalmic prostaglandins is prostaglandin F2alpha, a potent abortifacient.

The index in the written version is somewhat limited, making it difficult to rapidly access some information. For example, the Parks-Bielschowsky three-step test is not found in the index, nor in Section 11.3, Examination of Ocular Alignment and Eye Movement. With some effort, very well-presented discussion of the three-step test can be found in Section 11.10 Paralytic Strabismus (p. 1352). No such difficulty exists in the on-line version, in which searching for any key word instantly brings the reader to the desired passage.

Like all textbooks, which have a delay between writing and publication, there are omissions of current information. For the next volume, I would in particular anticipate a broader discussion of the use of VEGF inhibitors, and inclusion of information on evolving diagnostic modalities such as optical coherence tomography retina nerve fiber layer (OCT RNFL) analysis and retinal autofluorescence. I suggest to the editors that they consider intermittently updating the online chapters rather that wait until the next print version of the text so as to keep the volume current.

The online version is quick, very easy to use, and makes finding information a breeze, to the point where a practicing ophthalmologist may find it helpful to have the site up and running while examining patients.

This is a remarkable textbook and should be available to every ophthalmologist.