Ophthalmology is a highly specialised field with complex equipment often unfamiliar to medical students and foundation doctors due to limited exposure during training. Clinical Techniques in Ophthalmology is a 300-page handbook divided into six sections: Basic Clinical Optics, Ophthalmic Equipment, Examining Patients, Investigations, Procedures, and an introduction to Ophthalmic Drugs.
This book aims to tackle the unfamiliarity with ophthalmic equipment and procedures faced by trainees in their early years of training. It offers a structured approach to ophthalmic equipment, starting with an introduction to clinical optics and the principles behind key tools such as the slit lamp, direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, focimeters, gonioscopy, and three-mirror examination. Each device is discussed in dedicated sub-chapters with concise explanations, supplemented by high-quality labelled figures demonstrating their clinical use.
The next section on examining patients builds on this foundation, providing a methodical approach to assessing visual acuity, visual fields and cranial nerves. It integrates the use of ophthalmic equipment, explaining how to examine the anterior and posterior segments and measure intraocular pressure. The book also details key clinical tests, such as cover testing for strabismus.
Subsequent sections cover ophthalmic investigations, including Hess charts, fluorescein angiography, OCT, corneal topography, and electrodiagnostics. Each topic is introduced with its basic principles and supplemented by figures illustrating abnormal findings. Additionally, ‘Further Information’ boxes provide relevant physiological and clinical insights, such as the role of ICG angiography in assessing choroidal circulation.
The penultimate section (the longest) covers surgical procedures such as phacoemulsification, trabeculectomy, retinal detachment surgery, and corneal transplantation. Step-by-step illustrations enhance understanding, along with a discussion of potential complications. The final section introduces ophthalmic drugs, explaining their diagnostic and therapeutic roles.
Overall, this book enhanced my confidence in using ophthalmic equipment, particularly the slit lamp and indirect ophthalmoscope during day-to-day clinics. It is valuable as a supplementary resource for junior trainees, nurses, medical students and optometry students.
