Field of medicine: Ophthalmology in the primary care setting.

Format: Softcover book.

Audience: Primary care providers, including general internists, family practitioners, allied health professionals, and trainees.

Purpose: To give primary care providers a thorough introduction to and useful reference on ophthalmology.

Content: The book begins with an introduction to normal ophthalmic anatomy and the ophthalmologic examination and then considers the differential diagnosis of eye symptoms. Several chapters deal with the anatomy and pathology of structural elements of the eye and are arranged in anatomic sequence, from the eyelids to the retina. The rest of the chapters focus on special topics, such as glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, pediatric eye problems, orbital disease, and ocular trauma. In each chapter, a section on anatomy is followed by a diagnosis- or symptom-driven catalogue of conditions. The discussion of each condition covers signs, symptoms, etiology, differential diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, and follow-up. A section on the ophthalmologic manifestations of systemic disease and a chapter on medications are also included.

Highlights: The book is well organized and is largely in outline form, which makes it an extremely useful reference. It is visually impressive, with clear, well-labeled graphics and glossy pages laced with excellent color photographs. There is uniformity of detail throughout, and the presentation is consistent from chapter to chapter. The book will serve well as an introductory text, atlas, and efficient and accessible reference.

Limitations: The book provides a general overview of a broad range of material but is less useful for obtaining detailed information on a particular topic.

Related reading: The most up-to-date text of similar scope that is also designed for a primary care audience is Ophthalmology for Primary Care, by Wu (WB Saunders, 1997). Wu's book, however, is not as detailed, as well organized, or as visually pleasing as Ophthalmology for the Primary Care Practitioner. It has a color atlas at the front of the text rather than having color photographs distributed throughout. Although the two books are similar in content and approach, Ophthalmology for Primary Care is more superficial in tone and is much shorter. General Ophthalmology, by Vaughn, Asbury, and Riordan-Eva (Appleton & Lange, 1995), is not directed specifically at primary care providers.

Reviewer: David A. Horowitz, MD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.