1040-5488/04/8112-0904/0 VOL. 81, NO. 12, P.

904 OPTOMETRY AND VISION SCIENCE Copyright 2004 American Academy of Optometry

BOOK REVIEWS
Manual of Endoscopic Lacrimal and Orbital Surgery
John J. Woog, editor. Butterworth Heinemann, Philadelphia, 2003, $99.00 Less is more. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886 1969), German-born architect, New York Herald Tribune, 1959. Patients today are discriminating consumers with high expectations regarding medical and surgical care. They desire surgical interventions to be minimally invasive with smaller scars, reduced risk, and faster recovery times. It is not unheard of for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy to be out jogging the day after surgery, whereas patients undergoing open cholecystectomy require a minimum of 6 weeks recovery time in comparison. The development of rigid endoscopic technology in the past decade has revolutionized functional sinus surgery, for which it is predominantly used. Common usage of the endoscope in functional sinus surgery has led to a number of other potential applications in orbital and paraorbital surgery. In this book, Dr. John Woog has assembled a highly respected group of authors with considerable expertise in their respective areas. Chapter 1 provides a nice overview of pertinent lacrimal, orbital, and sinus anatomy. Office evaluation of lacrimal and orbital diseases (Chapter 2) and nasal and paranasal sinus diseases are well delineated. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 describe the evaluation and management of congenital dacryostenosis, acquired dacryostenosis, and Graves orbitopathy, respectively. The radiologic evaluation of lacrimal and orbital disease (Chapter 7) is particularly strong and well illustrated, especially the examples of pathology shown on dacryocystogram and computed tomography scan. Overall, the introductory chapters are all topics described in greater detail in other texts; however, their succinct coverage here provides necessary background information, especially given the multidisciplinary group of medical professionals who will be an audience for this book. Three different perspectives and techniques for endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy are described (Chapters 8, 9, and 15). Chapter 11 reports on balloon-assisted lacrimal surgery to complete the discussion on minimally invasive lacrimal procedures. Nice reviews of endoscopic techniques in the management of pediatric nasolacrimal anomalies (Chapter 12), orbital decompression surgery (Chapter 13), and orbital fracture repair (Chapter 14) are included. Each of these chapters on specific applications of endoscopic techniques are descriptive, readable, well illustrated, appropriately referenced, and supplemented with helpful suggestions from experienced surgeons. The chapter on endoscopic sinus surgery and septoplasty (Chapter 10) was surprisingly scant compared with the others. A brief overview of surgical indications, techniques, and complications are given with only two references. The topics of trans-sphenoidal pituitary surgery and optic nerve/canal decompression are merely mentioned in this section. These are special considerations for endoscopic surgery and deserve separate chapters in my opinion. The greatest obstacle to learning and teaching endoscopic procedures is the poor secondary visualization afforded to assisting surgeons in the operating room. Orientation and visualization available on standard projection screens are often less than desirable. This textbook includes a companion CD-ROM with additional still images and surgical clips of selected endoscopic procedures that are particularly well edited. Pertinent anatomy and procedural technique highlights are remarkably well illustrated. The minimal system requirements for viewing are available on most Windowsbased and Macintosh computers purchased within the past 3 to 5 years. The program QuickTime 6 is needed; however, it can be downloaded directly from the CD if necessary. Overall, this book provides an excellent up-to-date review on an important evolving surgical area in regards to instrumentation, techniques, and applications. I highly recommend this book to all surgeons with a propensity to operate in the orbital and paraorbital regions and to all health care professionals who may be directly involved in the care of these patients. Steven E. Katz Department of Ophthalmology William H. Havener Eye Center The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio

Optometry and Vision Science, Vol. 81, No. 12, December 2004