Through extensive illustrations, this book, comprehensively yet concisely, covers the diagnostic speciality of wide-field retinal angiography and imaging. There are 15 chapters with contributions from 29 leading experts in this particular field who are mainly based in the USA, but also in the UK, Spain, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.
The introductory first chapter gives a brief history of fundus imaging from its earliest origins back in 1704, the addition of fluorescein angiography in 1961, and the expansion of field capacity beyond the equator achieved in 1977. The development in 1992 of a camera with the capacity to capture images beyond 150 degrees, despite some peripheral distortion and abnormal colour representation, and more recently a specialist auxiliary lens, has extended the view to the ultra-wide range. The imaging options also include fundus fluorescein angiography and fundus autofluorescence.
Generally the chapters have a short but up-to-date reference or selected reading list, with the exception of retinal and choroidal inflammatory diseases which, rather disappointingly, had none. However, the high quality of the images for the case presentations in this chapter does showcase the different modalities that are now available with wide-field imaging technology. Although confined to an approximately 75 degree field, some of the best resolution images were found in the chapter on retinal and choroidal tumours, which used the composite montage of seven-field, multiple overlapping views to create wide-field colour images.
The longest chapters were those covering paediatric retina (which unsurprisingly had the most extensive reference list), retinal and choroidal tumours and infectious uveitis. Other chapters covered diabetic retinopathy, central and branch vein occlusion, retinal dystrophies, peripheral retinal degenerations and other miscellaneous retinal diseases.
Understandably, for an atlas, the text is kept to a minimum and the numerous images take centre stage. One of the main limiting factors for high quality, and adequate resolution with wide-field imaging, is the clarity of the ocular media. Unfortunately, some of the features described were difficult to discern on some of the colour images. This should not detract from the admirable achievements, by all concerned, to offer an affordable text to fill this niche subject.
This book may inspire some practitioners to look beyond the central 30-50 degrees when examining the retina and is certainly worth considering purchasing to enhance the retinal clinic reference library. It would provide interesting reading for all grades of ophthalmic practitioners and the ophthalmic imaging team members.
