BOOK REVIEWSEdited by H. Stanley Thompson, M.D.

Cataract and Lens Implant Surgery. By J. J.Kanski and Richard B. S. Packard. New York,Churchill Livingstone, Inc., 1985. 60 pages,index, illustrated. $39

Reviewed by CHARLES DYSONLondon, Ontario, Canada

The preface to this manual suggests that it isdirected toward two different types of individu­als. One is the neophyte ophthalmic micro­surgeon, and the other, the experienced practi­tioner who wants to modify or expandcombined cataract and implant surgery capabil­ities.

Intracapsular and extracapsular extractions,lensectomies, anterior and posterior intraocu­lar lens implantations, and combined glau­coma-cataract surgery are described in 97pages. The text is concise, clear, systematicallyorganized, and can be followed easily. It isprofusely illustrated with color photographs ofthe anterior segment and a few diagrams.Many of the color illustrations are excellent; afew are dark. The surgical techniques describedare confined to those used by the authors.

With the trend toward extracapsular surgeryin North America, the details of the intracap­sular techniques may be regarded by somereaders as excessive, perhaps even historical.Flexible loop posterior chamber lenses andtheir implantations are represented primarilyby the lens design and technique of RichardKratz. No emphasis is placed on placementwithin the capsule ("in the bag") or the bene­fits of angled haptic loops.

The description of anterior chamber lenses isclear, but the types used may reflect the prac­tice in Europe more than in North America andthe wide variety of lenses now available is notdescribed.

The chapter on lensectomies provides goodcoverage of a highly technical procedure.

This is a personalized, short, "how-to," man­ual. If it has a fault, it lies in the compromisebetween brevity and completeness of coverage.Complications and their treatment, for exam­ple, are well described, but only briefly, andrecourse to other sources would be essential. Itshould be of interest to the first-year ophthal­mology resident or senior medical studentwho

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is leaning toward an ophthalmic career. Itwould be a good addition to any teaching li­brary, and it will be of value to the establishedophthalmologist who is working in some de­gree of isolation, and wishes a quick referenceto the techniques covered.

Photobiology of the Skin and Eye. Edited byEdward M. Jackson. New York, Marcel Dekker,Inc., 1986.152 pages, index, illustrated. $49.75

Reviewed by DAVID T. TSEIowa City, Iowa

Photobiology, the study of the effect of lightupon biologic systems, is a branch of toxicolo­gy. Concern about the cancer risks of ultravio­let light exposure and skin tanning, and therole of light in the genesis of senile cataract hasmade photobiology an area of increasing clini­cal importance. Information in this field isevolving at an ever-increasing rate. Students ofphotobiology should be delighted that Dr. Jack­son has brought together some of the mostrenowned experts in the field, providing thereader with a single source of photobiologicinformation and references.

This volume is concerned mainly with thebasic science aspects of the effects of light onthe skin and the eye. The first chapter is a clearand well-illustrated overview of the complexphysical and chemical principles of photo­biology. Although this chapter may be some­what difficult for the practitioner, it is wellworth the effort. Chapter 2 reviews the types ofphototoxic cutaneous reactions that occur inphotosensitization.

The discussions of light sources for photo­toxicity studies and the various test methodolo­gies are short and adequate. Chapter 3 is devot­ed to the concepts in photoimmunology andphotoallergic skin responses. The fundamen­tals of cutaneous structure and function, in­flammation, immunology, and allergic contactdermatitis are well reviewed. New techniquesfor predictive testing for photoallergic respon­ses as well as approaches to diagnosing in

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patients with suspected photosensitivity tochemicals and drugs are also discussed. Chap­ter 4 provides an enlightening discussion onthe theory of photocarcinogenesis. The role ofultraviolet radiation in the induction of skincancer, together with the variables influencingthe process of photocarcinogenesis are exam­ined. Chapter 5 discusses Food and Drug Ad­ministration guidelines for ascertaining sunprotection factors.

A chapter on photochemotherapy examinesthe therapeutic benefits of light in certain dis­eases. Unfortunately, the only weakness of thischapter lies in the incomplete coverage of themost recent advances in the field of photody­namic therapy.

The concluding chapter deals with the effectsof light on the eye and also provides a review ofthe photochemical events believed to contrib­ute to lenticular and retinal alterations.

The book is well referenced; it is detailed andwell-organized. Although only one chapter isdevoted to the eye and very little of the con­tents would be of significant interest to thegeneral ophthalmologist, it should appeal toophthalmologists engaged in photobiology re­search.

The History of Ophthalmology. Vol. 11 (PartTwo). By Julius Hirschberg. Ocular Instru­ments. By T. v. Haugwitz. Postage Stamps. ByF. C. Blodi. Translated by Frederick C. Blodi.Bonn, J. P. Wayenborgh Verlag, 1986. 296pages, index, illustrated. Series subscription $98per volume.

Reviewed by FRANK W. NEWELLChicago, Illinois

This is an added volume to the BIodi transla­tion of Julius Hirschberg's History of Ophthal­mology. This does not contain any Hirschberg.The first portion is Blcdi's translation from theGerman of Haugwitz's 1981 history of opticalinstruments for the examination of the eye(Ophthalmologisch-optische Untersuchungs­gerate). The second portion is an original mon­ograph by Blodi, "The Eye, Vision and Oph­thalmology on Postage Stamps."

The instrument portion is difficult to classify.Many early instruments are illustated, butomissions are conspicuous. The indirect oph­thalmoscope is mentioned in the legend to a

single figure but not further described. Thedescription of optotypes does not mentionSnellen, or Jaeger. Many of the references aresecondary. The figures are numerous and ex­cellent, but there is no indication of theirsource. The references, mainly from Germansources, do not provide the titles.

The postage stamp section by BIodi is origi­nal and excellent. Blodi, in his preface, creditsthe 1972 Academy exhibit by Dr. R. T. Rank ofMilwaukee as attracting his attention and imag­ination to the topic. The volume covers manyaspects of ophthalmology beginning withstamps issued to honor ophthalmologists, con­tinuing through early practitioners, those whobecame famous in other fields, scientists whocontibuted substantially to the field, oculardiseases, their diagnoses and treatment, oph­thalmological congresses, rehabilitation of theblind, prevention of blindness, the blind, theone-eyed, mythology and religion, fine arts,visual aids and protection of the eye, and theeye as a symbol.

Generally the section is arranged with figureson the verso page and descriptions of thestamps on the facing page. Many of the stampshave their Scott Catalog number listed. Theconcept and descriptions reflect BIodi's highscholarship, broad interests, exceptional ener­gy, and linguistic skills. It provides an unusu­ally entertaining volume.

Evoked Potentials. Edited by Roger Q. Craccoand Ivan Bodis-Wollner. New York, Alan R. Liss,Inc., 1986. 564 pages, index, illustrated. $96

Reviewed by D. REGANHalifax, Canada

Modern technology has provided the oph­thalmologist with several effective means ofexamining structural damage to the retina andvisual pathway, but the investigation of func­tional abnormality remains, by and large, theuncertain province of subject report. A majorattraction of the evoked potential technique isthat it offers objective measurements of thefunctional status of the retina and visual path­way.

Evoked potentials are the electrical responsesof the peripheral and central nervous systemsto visual, auditory, tactile, and other forms of