The preoperative work-up further details techniques
for ultrasound, measuring pupil diameter for Holla-
day calculations, and the rule of corneal topography
with intraocular lens calculations. The section out-
lining topical anesthesia and intraocular lidocaine
presents a nice review of the studies available for the
safety and efficacy of lidocaine intraoperatively.
In a chapter entitled “Pharmacodynamics of Cata-
ract Surgery,” Dr Gills himself discusses his preopera-
tive, intraoperative, and recovery room medications.
Another chapter on advanced corneal incisions de-
scribes different techniques for developing corneal,
near-clear cornea, and scleral-tunnel incisions. The
illustrations, diagrams, tables, and kodachromes are
excellent throughout the book. The chapter related to
capsulorrhexis techniques and a subsequent chapter re-
lating to complications associated with capsulorrhexis are
both superbly written. Management of capsule contrac-
tion syndromes and techniques of posterior capsuloto-
mies, including plate lens designs, are presented quite
nicely. The diagrams outlining different current
phacoemulsification techniques are nicely presented.
Information relating to multifocal intraocular lenses,
new intraocular lens designs, toric intraocular lenses,
and piggybacking intraocular lenses (multi-intraocular
lens implantation) are all very thoroughly covered.
In summary, this book is a compilation of current
phacoemulsification techniques and management of
complications. It is not geared as much to people
learning phacoemulsification and thus may not be
particularly useful to residents in training or ophthal-
mologists who are just beginning to perform the
procedure, but it should be of special interest to those
physicians who commonly perform phacoemulsifications
and who are interested in updatng their techniques.
●
Phacoemulsification. Principles and Tech-
niques. Edited by Lucio Buratto. Thorofare, New
Jersey, SLACK, Inc, 1995. 544 pages index, illus-
trated. $195
REVIEWED BY KERRY SOLOMON, MD
Charleston, South Carolina
P
HACOEMULSIFICATION IS A WELL-FOCUSED BOOK
that broadly covers all aspects of phacoemulsifica-
tion. The book is divided into two sections. Section 1
details the principles on which phacoemulsification is
based and reviews state-of-the-art phacoemulsification
techniques. There are 12 chapters, all of which are
authored by the editor, Dr Buratto. Dr Buratto very
thoroughly covers every aspect of phacoemulsification,
from a detailed discussion of the different instruments
available for phacoemulsification to the different tech-
niques used by various physicians. Special attention is
given to incisions (scleral tunnel, clear cornea and
near-clear cornea), and intraocular lenses (including
foldable lenses). The techniques are truly current, the
illustrations are superb, and the photographs are very
well detailed. Dr Buratto’s second-to-last chapter of
this section, “Complications,” has wonderful illustra-
tions and tables summarizing the various common
complications associated with modern phacoemulsifi-
cation. He has broken the complications down into
each of the different steps associated with modern
techniques (complications of hydrodissection, compli-
cations of capsulorrhexis, and so on). Additionally, he
discusses interrogative ways to manage complications
of the posterior capsule. Once again, his illustrations
are superb. The last chapter in this section deals
specifically with the use of viscoelastics substances.
This chapter contains a thorough discussion of the
different viscoelastic substances and their use with
modern phacoemulsification.
Section 2 deals with different phacoemulsifica-
tion techniques used by specific surgeons around the
world. The authors of the chapters in this section
are well known and respected cataract surgeons,
including Drs Brent, Sheppard and Gimbell, Fine,
Gravevow, Cook, Noyhen, and Kelman. The tech-
niques described in these chapters are all current
and well detailed, although the illustrations vary
somewhat in quality.
In conclusion, this book is truly thorough, encom-
passing the entire state of phacoemulsification tech-
nologies and techniques through 1998. The illustra-
tions in general are superb, and the chapters are
generally well written and well outlined. Dividing the
discussion of techniques and complications by specific
sets makes this very easy for the reader to follow. I
would recommend Phacoemulsification for residents
learning phacoemulsification and ophthalmologists
who are interested in learning more or reading about
or updating their own phacoemulsification techniques.
A
MERICAN
J
OURNAL OF
O
PHTHALMOLOGY
332 A
UGUST 1998