Eye and skin disease

Abstract

Eye and skin disease Mark J. Mannis, MD, Marion S. Macsai, MD, and Arthur C. Huntley, MD, editors, Philadelphia, 1995, Lippincott-Raven Publishers. 705 pages. $225.00. Dermatologists are aware of many of the special associations between the skin and the eye. There are, to be sure, precious few who recognize the full extent of this relationship. Eye and Skin Disease will literally open your eyes. This book is large—705 pages, divided into 20 sections, and 73 chapters—written by 127 authors. Most chapters are a collaborative effort by a dermatologist and an ophthalmologist, some by a single ophthalmologist and fewer by a single dermatologist. Do not be dismayed by the size of the book because each chapter has a box of key clinical points, which permits a quick review as though it were a handbook. Each chapter expands to include definition, incidence, dermatologic clinical features, ophthalmologic clinical features, pathogenesis, differential diagnosis, dermatologic treatment, and ophthalmologic treatment. Bibliographies at the end of each chapter are well balanced between the specialties, and most (but not all) are up to date. Excellent chapters are written by recognized authorities in many areas. Papulosquamous diseases, bullous diseases, keratotic disorders, contact dermatitis, collagen vascular diseases, rosacea, metabolic diseases, bacterial and viral infections, the effects of sunlight, and more are covered. Dermatologists will find the chapter on ophthalmologic side effects of commonly used dermatologic drugs valuable. Conjunctivitis and blepharitis for the dermatologist with both illustrations and photographs is particularly interesting. The extensive differential diagnostic index will be of interest primarily to ophthalmologists because it is keyed to ocular signs and symptoms. Separate glossaries of basic terms for dermatologists and ophthalmologists complete the book. Photographic quality of both dermatologic and ophthalmologic conditions (my ophthalmologic consultant affirms) is excellent throughout the volume, although some of the dermatologic photographs would benefit from being oriented differently. Is this a book for a dermatologist or an ophthalmologist? Unquestionably Eye and Skin Disease is for both. Each specialty partially handicaps itself. Ophthalmologists all too often view their patients in the subdued light of the ophthalmologic examining room, whereas dermatologists often fail to look beyond the skin of the eyelid. The vision of both will be improved by this unique text.