The Companion Handbook to the Cornea, 2nd ed. Herbert E. Kaufman, Bruce A. Barron, Marguerite B. McDonald, Stephen C. Kaufman, eds. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2000. Pages: 1012. Price: 79. 95. ISBN: 0-7506-7144-0. At 1012 pages, The Companion Handbook to the Cornea, 2nd ed. , is described as a “portable” rather than a “pocket” handbook whose mission is to provide a clinical reference on the cornea. This text is the companion handbook to the well-known compendium of corneal disease, The Cornea. Although it is primarily devoted to corneal disorders, the publication also contains a brief synopsis of basic science of the eye and adnexa as well as descriptions of common corneal surgical procedures. Additionally, the inclusion of corneal surface problems and thinning disorders provides depth to the publication. The text is divided into two portions. Part I reviews corneal anatomy and surrounding structures in addition to basic ocular immunology in the first 19 pages of the text. Part II, the majority of the textbook, describes the clinical science and management of corneal disorders. It includes sections devoted to abnormalities of the eyelids and tear film, conjunctival and corneal infections, congenital and metabolic disorders of the cornea, corneal dystrophies and degenerations, conjunctival and corneal immunologic disorders, corneal neoplastic disease, and corneal trauma. Other sections address corneal management issues including the effects of surgery and contact lenses on the cornea, corneal thinning disorders, corneal transplantation, corneal topography, and corneal refractive surgery. Within each section, succinct chapters outline specific topics. During a recent consultation for a patient with irregular corneal topography in the absence of other pathological signs, I used the text to review characteristics of less frequently encountered corneal conditions. The table of contents and the index provided immediate access to the two chapters containing pertinent information and were organized in a manner relevant to the spectrum of health care practitioners likely to use the text. Clinical features highlighted in tables and lists aided in the differential diagnosis. The pictures and diagrams, whereas not applicable to my patient, augmented the text. Brief descriptions of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of the disorders enhanced my understanding and eventual management of the condition. Although this book is not my text of choice for complications associated with contact lens wear, I found the other sections devoted to corneal management issues instructive. Although providing up-to-date information on the dynamic practice of refractive surgery is challenging, the editors successfully communicate clinically applicable issues related to these emerging technologies. Additionally, the expertise of the four editors and 74 contributing authors provide credibility to this and other sections of the publication. The editors’ intentions are that the text be used in conjunction with its parent manual, The Cornea. However, clinicians could also use the publication as a stand-alone reference. Additionally, faculty members or budget-oriented students and residents may prefer to purchase the Companion Handbook for day-to-day use and access its parent manual via the reference library. In summary, this book succeeds in its intent to provide a “practical, concise corneal reference text and corneal surgery manual in a handbook format. ” It is noteworthy that, in the text's foreword, Claes H. Dohlman, Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School and Chief Emeritus, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, describes the publication as “handy for ophthalmology residents, cornea fellows, emergency room staff, as well as for practitioners in the field. ” Members of the optometric community should certainly be added to the list.
Heidi Wagner (Sat,) studied this question.