This book, which is the latest volume from the European School for Advanced Studies in Ophthalmology (ESASO) course series, is a revelation and joy to review.
This compact volume provides an introduction and an update to the most recent technological developments in optical coherence tomography (OCT) instrumentation including Swept Source (SS) (or optical frequency domain) – OCT imaging, enhanced depth imaging (EDI) spectral domain (SD) OCT and also re-evaluation of the uses of the ‘En Face’ OCT analysis. The book brings together many recent studies that demonstrate the difference between the instrumentation for the most common but diverse group of conditions that ophthalmology attracts.
I am most impressed by the overview of OCT applications that this book has provided. Each of the fifteen ‘chapters’ is in essence a published paper that had been presented as part of a recently held ESASO course on the new developments in the use of OCT. Each one covers, briefly, an application of the technology with an accompanying reference list to which the readers may divert should they wish to seek additional details on a particular topic. The illustrations are numerous, of high quality and include cross-sectional and ‘en face’ OCT scans both in false colour-coded and monochrome versions.
This is not an atlas of OCT for which there are several excellent publications now available but instead provides a very helpful summary of the various commercial instruments and the breadth of applications for which this technology has shown to be of clinical value.
This publication has been aimed primarily at experienced and trainee ophthalmologists who need to use the OCT in daily practice. However, the contents, which include an introduction to the available equipment, basic techniques, applied examples of anterior to posterior pathological ocular conditions and pre- and post surgical evaluation, would also appeal to the specialist ophthalmic nurse, and all allied health professionals involved with OCT imaging.
It may be a personal desire to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in this field, but it is not possible to attend the many national and international courses and updates for OCT. However, to have access to a collection of the contributed material, so soon after the event and presented so well, was a pleasure to read, and deserves a score of 5/5 in value for money.
