616 Surv Ophthalmol 49 (6) November–December 2004 MULTIMEDIA REVIEWS
anatomy, physiology, and molecular biology areseamlessly interwoven. This approach underliesone of the strengths of the book: the outlining ofcommon structures, mechanisms, and proteins acrossphyla (and kingdoms) for each sense.
One of the remarkable aspects of the book is howwell it tracks even very recent discoveries in the fast-moving field of the molecular identity of sensorytransducers. Thus there are up-to-date sections on theMEC or mechanotransduction cascade proteins in C.elegans, ASIC channels or pain/mechanoreceptors inmammals, and thermoreceptive TRP channels. How-ever, there have been a number of important ad-vances since publication and these are necessarilyabsent. For example, there is now good evidencethat the vertebrate hair cell mechanotransductionchannel is a member of the TRPN family, and thata major component of the hair cell tip link is cadh-erin-23. A second attractive feature is the copiousand clear illustrations provided by Margery Fain.Throughout the text, figures from classical and re-cent publications have been updated and given auniform appearance.
Who should read this book? The book is ideal foranyone with a wide curiosity about the mechanismsthat underlie different modes of sensation, both ininvertebrates and vertebrates. The book would alsoprovide an invaluable foundation for teaching acourse on comparative sensory physiology. However,the reader who is solely interested in vertebrate pho-totransduction will find that this topic constitutes arelatively small part of the book and may bedisappointed.
Steven H. DeVries, MD, PhDChicago, Illinois, USA
doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2004.08.021
The Fine Art of Prescribing Glasses (Without Makinga Spectacle of Yourself), 3rd ed., by Benjamin Milderand Melvin L. Rubin, Gainesville, Triad Publishing,2004, 494 pp., illus., hardcover. Price: US$ 88.00.
I tried to write this piece in rhyme, but had a trulydevilish time,
So I resort to simple prose, and leave the meter to the Pros.
The importance of refraction and the prescribingof spectacles cannot be over-estimated. It is the mostcommonly performed examination and treatment byophthalmology residents and by newly trained oph-thalmologists. Frequently it is thestandardby which thenewly trained ophthalmologist will be judged by hisor her patients. This book by Drs. Milder and Rubinprovides the information, scientific and practical, toinsure refractive success.
The book is organized into 22 chapters, each pref-aced by the usual wry poetic introduction to the gen-eral topic. In addition to the expected chapters onhyperopia, myopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia,there are chapters dealing with cataract, aphakia, andpseudophakia. New material is included on refractivesurgery and new lens materials. The discussion ofprogressive lenses is significantly expanded as well.The chapter on the partially sighted patient includesa discussion of electronic visual aids and current andpotential computer contributions.
Each chapter includes a number of specific clinicalcases, descriptions of real or hypothetical patientsthat will be instantaneously recognized by even a first-year resident. There are a few figures in most chaptersthat are notable for their simplicity. Although thereis a scientific basis for most of the information in-cluded, and a short bibliography at the end of eachchapter, the style is that of an informal narrative, asif the authors were present during the reader’s clinicalexamination, offering advice or making incisive obser-vations. I was particularly enamored of the chapter“The Dissatisfied Refraction Patient.” It is as im-portant to recognize why a prescribed pair of specta-cles turned out to be unsuccessful, as it is to get themright the first time.
This is a wonderful book, not only for a nascentophthalmologist, but also for any ophthalmologist(whether or not they still actively refract and pre-scribe glasses), and is heartily recommended.
Michael Rosenberg, MDChicago, Illinois, USA
doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2004.08.022
