News and notices. Comm Eye Health Vol. 18 No. 56 2005. December 15, 2005

Book Review. ABC of Eyes, Khaw P T, Shah P, Elkington A R. 4th Edition, BMJ Books, 2004

The beginnings of this book were as a series of separate short articles published in the British Medical Journal nearly 20 years ago. These were evidently intended as a rapid update in eye disease for busy general practitioners and other doctors. The current 4th edition of the resulting book, extensively revised and updated, still admirably fulfils this purpose. It will also be valuable to medical students, nurses and ophthalmic medical assistants approaching eye disease for the first time or revising for examinations.

The 14 short chapters (none more than eight pages) are attrac­tively laid out, with many illustrations, and each chapter can be read and mastered in a relatively short period of time. Some of the illus­trations are rather small, but the CD-ROM, which is supplied with the book, is easily accessed and each picture can be enlarged for study of the details. The CD also has the entire text and a comprehensive Text Search for specific topics.

The book’s origin as separate articles, to be read one at a time, is still reflected in the unequal treatment of topics and the conspicuous lack of cross-referencing. For example, in the first chapter, History and Examination, there is a photo of measurement of intraocular pressure by applanation, but no mention in the text. Why not have a cross-reference to the glaucoma chapter where the technique is considered in detail?

Despite this comment, this text can continue to be recom­mended as a useful and friendly introduction to the recognition and management of eye disease.The ABC of Eyes is available from Teaching Aids at Low Cost (TALC), PO Box 49 St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 5TX, UK. Email: [email protected] Website: www.talcuk.org Fax: +44 1727 846852. Price: £9.00

News and notices in Comm Eye Health Vol. 18 No. 56 2005 –