Book Review

Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Principles and Practice

N Engl J Med 1993; 329:69July 1, 1993

Article

Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Principles and Practice
Edited by G. Robert Hampton and Philip T. Nelsen. 300 pp., illustrated. New York, Raven Press, 1992. $80. ISBN: 0-88167-916-X

Age-related macular degeneration is the main cause of legal blindness in developed nations. It is already a major health problem, and with the continuous increase in our aging population, the number of affected patients will grow. Although numerous reviews have been written on age-related macular degeneration, this is the first time that an entire book has dealt with the subject. It is a timely, short, clear, and well-written overview of the chief problems related to this disorder.

The book consists of chapters by experts in the field and is well organized, informative, and readable. The chapter on epidemiology is comprehensive, clearly written, and well balanced. It covers in detail all the pertinent issues and is extremely well referenced. The chapter covering the pathophysiology of age-related macular degeneration is a pleasure to read and offers a fresh and thought-provoking theory to explain the different clinical manifestations of the disease. Every aspect of the disease is covered, from patient evaluation and clinical presentations to medical, laser, and surgical treatments. The inclusion of chapters on low-vision evaluation and on resources for affected patients and a chapter written by a patient are excellent examples of the editors' effort to produce a comprehensive book. There is no chapter on fluorescein angiography, a relatively new imaging technique that provides some additional information in selected cases of neovascularization in patients with age-related macular degeneration. I am sure the editors will include it in the second edition.

The goals of the editors have been exceptionally well met; this wonderful book should be read by all ophthalmologists in practice and residents in ophthalmology. Even retinal experts will find useful information in here, and although at times they might wish for more depth and detail, some ideas will make them rethink their current approaches to patients with age-related macular degeneration.

E. Gragoudas, M.D.
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA 02114