the eye and immunology

1
532 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY APRIL, 1982 trabeculectomy. The remainder of the section is devoted to treatment with tim- olol and the management of closed-angle glaucoma. The major problem of early detection in rural areas is not discussed and it is doubtful whether medical treat- ment with timolol or other medications is practical in such areas. Suppurative keratitis is another world- wide problem and the diagnosis and man- agement of this condition are well de- scribed. The value of gram staining is emphasized and a simple technique de- scribed. Other chapters describe the management of ocular trauma and the technique of laser photocoagulation in proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The last part of the book describes the role of the International Agency for the Preven- tion of Blindness, the Asian Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness, and the National Programme for the Control of Blindness in India and ends with an analysis of the prevalence and causes of blindness throughout the world. The book is lavishly produced and beautifully illustrated with high-quality color plates. Does it achieve its purpose? As a public relations exercise for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness the answer must be yes. The ophthalmologist working in reasonably modern conditions will already be ac- quainted with the treatment of glaucoma, trauma, ocular infections, and diabetes. For his less fortunate colleagues in the developing countries the most practical aspects are the guidance on diagnosis and treatment of suppurative keratitis and the details of trabeculectomy. Their main hope for the future must remain that a publication such as this will excite inter- est and finance for an expansion of train- ing schemes to alleviate the acute short- age of skilled manpower in so many areas of the world. The Eye and Immunology. By Mathea R. Allansmith. St. Louis, C. V. Mos- by Co., 1982. Softcover, 209 pages, index, 106 black and white figures. $34.50 The subject of ocular immunology is presented in seven chapters: Immunolog- ic Principles, Mechanisms of Tissue Inju- ry, Immunology of the Eye, Diseases of the Lids and the Conjunctiva, Diseases of the Cornea and the Sclera, Intraocular Diseases and Ocular Tumors, and Ocular Components of Systemic Immunologic Diseases. The book is intended for resi- dents, ophthalmologists interested in this area, and scientists in other fields. The author does not attempt to provide a lengthy, detailed description of immuno- logic diseases of the eye with an extensive list of references, but rather emphasizes basic principles and concepts essential to the understanding of ocular immunology and provides a select list of references. The text is clear, concise, and readable. Allansmith has a dynamic style and an ability to simplify difficult material. Both these qualities should enhance the read- er's understanding and retention of the subject matter. The text is reinforced by many well-chosen illustrations. The book also contains a glossary with succinct defi- nitions of terms that are important and useful in this area. Overall, the book provides a concise presentation of basic concepts and principles of ocular immu- nology in a style that is easy and enjoy- able to read. BARTLY J. MONDINO Self Assessment of Current Knowledge in Ophthalmology, 2nd ed. By Timothy Van Scott and Sidney Jay Weiss. Gar- den City, New York, Medical Examina- tion Publishing Co., Inc., 1981. Soft- cover, 216 pages. $25 EDWARD S. PERKINS

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532 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY APRIL, 1982

trabeculectomy. The remainder of the section is devoted to treatment with tim-olol and the management of closed-angle glaucoma. The major problem of early detection in rural areas is not discussed and it is doubtful whether medical treat-ment with timolol or other medications is practical in such areas.

Suppurative keratitis is another world-wide problem and the diagnosis and man-agement of this condition are well de-scribed. The value of gram staining is emphasized and a simple technique de-scribed. Other chapters describe the management of ocular trauma and the technique of laser photocoagulation in proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The last part of the book describes the role of the International Agency for the Preven-tion of Blindness, the Asian Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness, and the National Programme for the Control of Blindness in India and ends with an analysis of the prevalence and causes of blindness throughout the world.

The book is lavishly produced and beautifully illustrated with high-quality color plates. Does it achieve its purpose? As a public relations exercise for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness the answer must be yes. The ophthalmologist working in reasonably modern conditions will already be ac-quainted with the treatment of glaucoma, trauma, ocular infections, and diabetes. For his less fortunate colleagues in the developing countries the most practical aspects are the guidance on diagnosis and treatment of suppurative keratitis and the details of trabeculectomy. Their main hope for the future must remain that a publication such as this will excite inter-est and finance for an expansion of train-ing schemes to alleviate the acute short-age of skilled manpower in so many areas of the world.

The Eye and Immunology. By Mathea R. Allansmith. St. Louis, C. V. Mos-by Co., 1982. Softcover, 209 pages, index, 106 black and white figures. $34.50

The subject of ocular immunology is presented in seven chapters: Immunolog-ic Principles, Mechanisms of Tissue Inju-ry, Immunology of the Eye, Diseases of the Lids and the Conjunctiva, Diseases of the Cornea and the Sclera, Intraocular Diseases and Ocular Tumors, and Ocular Components of Systemic Immunologic Diseases. The book is intended for resi-dents, ophthalmologists interested in this area, and scientists in other fields. The author does not attempt to provide a lengthy, detailed description of immuno-logic diseases of the eye with an extensive list of references, but rather emphasizes basic principles and concepts essential to the understanding of ocular immunology and provides a select list of references. The text is clear, concise, and readable. Allansmith has a dynamic style and an ability to simplify difficult material. Both these qualities should enhance the read-er's understanding and retention of the subject matter. The text is reinforced by many well-chosen illustrations. The book also contains a glossary with succinct defi-nitions of terms that are important and useful in this area. Overall, the book provides a concise presentation of basic concepts and principles of ocular immu-nology in a style that is easy and enjoy-able to read.

B A R T L Y J . M O N D I N O

Self Assessment of Current Knowledge in Ophthalmology, 2nd ed. By Timothy Van Scott and Sidney Jay Weiss. Gar-den City, New York, Medical Examina-tion Publishing Co., Inc., 1981. Soft-cover, 216 pages. $25 E D W A R D S. P E R K I N S