What question did this study set out to answer?

The review evaluates the content and utility of a book on ocular diagnostic and therapeutic drugs for optometrists.

April 3, 2026

O'Connor Davies's Ophthalmic Drugs: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Uses. 4th ed. GrahamHopkins, RichardPearson. Boston: Butterworth‐Heinemann. 1998. Pages: 258. Price: 60. 00. ISBN 0‐7506‐2966‐5.

Key Points

The review evaluates the content and utility of a book on ocular diagnostic and therapeutic drugs for optometrists.
Analysis of book structure and content focusing on key areas such as antimicrobials and mydriatics.
Examination of pharmacological nomenclature and suggestions for additional content.
Assessment of the clarity and presentation style of the material.
The book provides a practical summary of ocular drugs, well-suited for optometric practitioners.
Certain sections, particularly anti-inflammatory, require enhancement for improved comprehensibility.
Recommendations include adding schematic diagrams and a stand-alone chapter on anti-inflammatory drugs.

Abstract

O'Connor Davies's Ophthalmic Drugs: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Uses. 4th ed. Graham Hopkins, Richard Pearson. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann. 1998. Pages: 258. Price: 60. 00. ISBN 0-7506-2966-5. The authors, Graham Hopkins and Richard Pearson, have produced a well-written book. The strong point of the book is its excellent summary paragraphs and relevant clinical data pertaining to the selection and use of ocular diagnostic and therapeutic drugs. Detailed information is not presented on the pharmacological mechanisms governing the action of the drugs described in this book. However, for the optometric practitioner who has previously covered and understands such information, this deficiency will not significantly affect the overall usefulness of the book. The addition of a few well-planned schematic diagrams would help the optometrist to grasp the complex information presented in many of the introductory paragraphs. We have few style criticisms, except that current pharmacological nomenclature uses the term adrenoceptor rather than adrenergic receptor and the term nuclear chain used in the antiviral section is vague. The chapters describing antimicrobials, ophthalmic dosage forms, drug selection and mydriatics, miotics, and cycloplegics are all presented and summarized very well. The anti-inflammatory section is fairly weak; we suggest that a stand-alone chapter dealing with this topic be added. The chapter on antiglaucoma medications is well written, although additional information could be added concerning the newest class of drugs, the prostanoids. Overall, we recommend this book for the optometrist who requires a practical, well-written summary detailing the selection and clinical uses of current ocular diagnostic and therapeutic pharmacological agents. We caution against this book as a reference for detailed information describing the pharmacological mechanisms of ocular DPA and TPA action.

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