Cataract and Refractive Surgery

Abstract

Thomas Conen and Douglas D. Koch (eds) Cataract and Refractive Surgery In: G. K. Krügelstain and R. N. Weinreb (eds) Essentials in Ophthalmology 324 pages Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 2005 ISBN 3 540 20046 0 Price: $99.00 Essentials in Ophthalmology is a review series covering eight different topics in ophthalmology, of which cataract and refractive surgery represents one. A new book of review in each area will be published every 2 years. This particular volume contains 10 chapters on cataract and nine on refractive surgery. Obviously not all aspects of these two quickly developing areas in ophthalmic surgery can be covered in this first volume. Each chapter, however, is designed in a didactic manner and begins with core messages, where the take-home information can be digested in 20 seconds. Each section within a chapter is also summarized in between three and five sentences, in what is called a ‘summary for clinicians’. This enables the reader to acquire an abstract view of each chapter very quickly and without reading the details. The authors are all well known surgeons and scientists working within the international arena and, although they stick to the same format, each of them frequently adds his or her personal touch to their own particular chapters, for better or for worse. As we all know, illustrations, particularly colour photographs, are difficult to obtain in the field of ophthalmology and in this book the illustrations range from the excellent to the not-so-good. This volume paints the cataract and refractive scene of 2002–03. This means that if you want to read about today's hot topics, such as Epilasik, you will have to wait for the next volume. For those who want to acquire an update of modern cataract and refractive surgery, this is an effective and enjoyable way to do so. Three chapters, in particular, recommend this book. The first is the chapter on accommodative intraocular lenses by Oliver Findel. This must be the best description of a complex and controversial subject published so far. Further, the chapter by Rupert Menapase on the prevention of posterior capsule opacification should become required textbook reading in the future. For those of us who enjoy a bit of an historical perspective and a touch of when, who, why and why not, the chapter on refractive keratotomy ‘Does it have a future role in refractive surgery?’ is not only very educational, but is a true pleasure to read. As an added bonus for cataract surgeons interested in surgical techniques, another chapter clearly delineates the difference between ‘chip and flip’, ‘crack and flip’, ‘fako chop’, ‘chew chew chop and flip’ and a few other variations on this theme. Given the rapid development in these two fields of ophthalmic surgery, I look forward with anticipation to the next volume in this series. It will, I am sure, include chapters on today's hot topics, such as patient benefit from ophthalmic surgery and newly evident complications that are inherent in every surgical technique in the areas of both cataract and refractive surgery.