Studies on Retinal and Choroidal Disorders examines the role that oxidative and nitrosative stress plays in the complex physiology and pathophysiology of the retina and choroid. Both the basic science researcher and the clinical practitioner can use this book as a guide to the current understanding of retinal and choroidal cellular mechanisms involved in aging and disease. Beginning with a review of oxidative stress and inflammation in the pathoetiology of AMD and a review of the complement system in the retina, the book then takes a detailed look at oxidative stress in lipid metabolism and oxidized lipoproteins in the retina. It examines the anti-apoptotic activity of -crystallins in the presence of glutathione, oxidative stress in the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, the role of iron in retinal disease, the mechanisms of pathological VEGF expression, NAPDH oxidase mechanisms, and Hepatocyte Growth Factor in oxidative stress in the retina. A detailed look at the Ccl2-/-/Cx3cr1-/- mouse model of AMD follows. Then a detailed examination of the systemic changes in AMD is followed by a discussion of cerium oxide nanoparticle reduction of oxidative stress. Two chapters discuss progenitor cells in the cause and treatment of retinal diseases including AMD and diabetic retinopathy. Natural compounds in the prevention and treatment of retinal diseases are exhaustively presented, followed by a chapter on serotonin 5-HT1A receptor agonists in oxidative stress of the retina. The current anti-VEGF treatment strategies of neovascular AMD are then given. The volume continues with a detailed look at nitric oxide and inducible nitric oxide synthase in retinal vascular disease, an explanation of an in vivo technique of studying the effect of lipid hydroperoxides on circulating leucocytes in the retina, an excellent review of oxidative stress in retinopathy of prematurity, and a look at VEGF induced oxidative stress in the retinal ganglion cell. The book ends with a detail examination of the role of carotenoids in retinal health and disease. These 31 chapters summarize what is known about oxidative stress in retinal and choroidal disorders. All those involved with degenerative diseases of the eye will find Studies on Retinal and Choroidal Disorders to be illuminating and comprehensive.

The first of its kind to cover the cutting edge technique of glued IOLs in eyes with deficient capsules, A Video Textbook of Glued IOLs combines the practical explanation of written text with the dynamic demonstration of a surgical video website. With this unique combination, the narrated videos are able to demonstrate all the challenging surgical situations, while the textbook will provide more in-depth step-by-step details for each technique. Dr. Amar Agarwal and his contributors are some of the leading pioneers of the glued IOL technique and provide expert advice on all aspects, including complications, predictions of problems, and methods of management. A Video Textbook of Glued IOLs also includes the history of the technique, methods, modifications, combinations, results, and complications, making it the first textbook to collect all the details on glued IOLs and compile them together with over 40 narrated video tutorials into one comprehensive resource. A Video Textbook of Glued IOLs offers state-of-the-art instruction from the innovators of the technique themselves and its step-by-step approach makes it simple to understand and easy to reproduce for anterior segment surgeons, junior ophthalmologists, specialists, and post-graduates alike. Some videos include: Subluxated cataract extraction Decentered IOL in the sulcus IOL in the anterior chamber Dislocated IOL in the retina Co-morbid scenarios like microcornea, aniridia, trauma and Coloboma

There has been considerable increase in the knowledge concern ing tear secretion, the ocular surface, and pathophysiologic con ditions leading to the dry eye. Much of this new knowledge is not widely appreciated. Although there have been proceedings of symposia published, there is no currently available book of suf ficient scope, yet reasonable length, which ties together aspects of this newly acquired knowledge. This textbook is designed to give the ophthalmic practitioner a comprehensive, yet concise, guide line concerning the diagnosis and treatment of the dry eye. We have been able to bring together leading researchers to accom plish the same. We wish to express our special thanks to the company Dr. Mann Pharma of Berlin without whose generous sponsorship we could not have completed our task. The sponsor ship, in bringing together the authors in planning, preparation, and realization of this text, is gratefully acknowledged. Washington/Ulm, March 1992 M. A. Lemp R. Marquardt Contents Introduction 1 Chapter 1 History of the Dry Eye J. Murube . . . . . 3 1 lntroduction 3 2 The Concept of the Dry Eye 5 3 The History of the Causes of the Dry Eye 6 4 The History of the Diagnosis of the Dry Eye 11 5 The History of the Treatment of the Dry Eye 15 6 The Social Response to the Dry Eye 19 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Chapter 2 Functional Morphology of the Conjunctiva J. W. Rohen and E. Lutjen-Drecoll. With 20 Figures and 3 Tables . . . . . . . . . 35 1 Conjunctiva . . . . . . . .

The management of vascular and tumorous lesions of the parasellar region still remains one of the most demanding tasks in neurosurgery. It is only a short time ago that the major concepts of the anatomy of the so-called cavernous sinus were described in detail. Surgical interventions in this region are very complex, they are time-consuming and require an extensive back ground of experience in surgery of the cranial base. Pioneer anatomical studies of the parasellar region done by Taptas, and the daring direct operative approach introduced by Parkinson pro moted the development of modern neuroradiological intervention proce dures, which were initiated by Serbinenko and further refined by Debrun, Vifiuela and others. The technique of the detachable balloon catheter stimulated surgeons to proceed with the direct operative approach to lesions of the parasellar region. Today, it is hard to imagine a successful man agement of vascular pathologies of this region without a complementary use of the two techniques."

This conference was instigated by a combination of factors: The nature of the problem, the wide spread occupational epidemiology reported on eye symptoms and eye fatigue in the workplace, and the organizers' awareness of the complexity of the scientific and clinical bases of knowledge that might be usefully applied. The introduction of new methods into system neurobiology provides new insights into how we receive and process information from the external world, and act upon it. New, non-invasive methods have opened the way to direct observation of the human brain in action. Due particularly to the interaction between the visual and oculomotor requirements involved, several clinical and scientific fields intersect when these issues are considered. To provide clear vision the accommodative and pupillary mechanisms are used. To maintain binocularity, the ver gence oculomotor system, sensitive to fatigue, must attain congruence with accommodative levels. This accommodation-vergence linkage was a focus of our symposium."

This book has become an iconic textbook in eye care over many years and multiple editions having originally published in 1986. Considered one of the classic, definitive books for comprehensive anterior segment diagnosis, treatment, and management, this new edition includes a new chapter on pre- and postop management of cataract and refractive surgery and primary care of Glaucoma, which is a major part of primary care optometry today, along with updates on proprietary therapeutic drugs, and technology additions such as amniotic membranes, injectables, and minor in-office procedures. It contains high-quality photos, 6 clinical DX and RX appendices, an index of more than 1800 items, and 74 tables, making this an accessible resource for clinical practitioners. Key Features: * With a combined 130 years of clinical experience and expertise, the optometric authors provide succinct information necessary for diagnosing, treating, and managing all anterior segment, primary glaucoma, and non-surgical ocular conditions. * Includes current and new ocular, and systemic drugs along with pre & postoperative cataract and refractive surgery management protocols useful for clinicians to assist with diagnosis and treatment. * Features a unique presentation format as all the clinical (DX & RX) information is organized in the SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) format for quick referencing and practical use by the primary eye care practitioners.

The research workers at the Eye Clinic of the Medical Academy of Erfurt are proud of having been entrusted, for the second time, with the organization of the yearly ISCEV symposium. Twelve years ago the 6th Symposium was held in Erfurt. This time we turned to Reinhardsbrunn, an old castle situated in the vicinity of Erfurt on the fringes of the wonderful mountainscape of the Thuringian Forest. Reinhardsbrunn castle serves today as a holiday hotel and convention place. It seemed to us to be the right place for carrying on the discussions in a comfortable and informal way after the actual sessions were over. Comparing the scientific reports read at the 6th and 17th Symposium, both organized in Erfurt, one readily becomes aware of the impressive advances in our rapidly developing field of interest. The technical and, more specifically, the electronic advancements have been enormous, especially in the field of recording and processing the visually evoked cortical potentials.. Adually, the addition of this special field of study to our realm, led to the renaming of the Society some years ago. Moreover, it became more and more obvious that interdisciplinary cooperation between ophthalmologists, physiologists, physi cists, technologists and mathematicians is essential. This is also reflected in the composition of our membership."

This book contains the proceedings of the International Symposium on Ophthalmie Drug Delivery, which was held in Pisa in October 1986. Topical ophthalmic therapy is a matter of interest to specialists from different fields (medical, pharmaceutical, chemical, technological, etc.), who, unfortunately, have a tendency to meet separately, thus limiting a diffusion of knowledge, ideas and experience that would greatly favour the overall pro- gress in this area of research. The Symposium, for the first time in Europe, provided the opportunity for specialists from different disciplines and from different countfies to meet, to discuss and to share their experience. This multidisciplinary approach is reflected in the wide variety of topics that appear in the book. The papers are aimed at reviewing many of the complex, interrelated, medical pharmaceutical and technological facets of topical ophthalmic therapy. lt is our hope that they may stimulate further thought in this fascinating field, and may provide possible guidelines for future research. The editors wish to express their appreciation to the sponsors of the Symposium: Fidia Research Laboratories, whose generosity permitted the meeting tobe held, and the ltalian National Research Council (CNR, Progetto Finalizzato Chimica Fine e Secondaria) who gave its scientific tutorship. Thanks are also due to the other Symposium contributors, ACRAF SpA, Rome, and Allergan Italia SpA, Rome. The assistance, support and coopera- tion given before, during and after the Symposium by Dr. Patrizia Chetoni, Dr. Maria Tilde Torracca and Dr. Elena Parolini arealso gratefully acknowledged.

Permanent surgical treatment for presbyopia remains the hereto unconquered "last frontier" in anterior segment surgery. Over the years, continuing innovations like Phaco, Radial Keratotomy, LASIK, and premium intraocular lenses have pushed toward this ultimate goal, but now anterior segment surgery is closer than ever with the advent of modern laser-assisted presbyopic lens implantation. Let Refractive Lens Exchange: A Surgical Treatment for Presbyopia, the first book of its kind, be your guide to this fifth wave of innovation in the surgical treatment of presbyopia. Dr. Ming X. Wang, MD, PhD, joined by Associate Editor Dr. Tracy S. Swartz, OD, MS, FAAO and more than 30 expert contributors, compiled this remarkable book. Never before has there been a book dedicated to all aspects of refractive lens exchange as a permanent treatment for presbyopia, both medically and surgically. Highlights of Refractive Lens Exchange include: Overview of all surgical treatments for presbyopia Dysfunctional lens syndrome and pathophysiology Patient education and preoperative assessment Marketing refractive lens exchange as a surgical treatment for presbyopia New technologies in assessing dysfunctional lens syndrome New technologies in mapping cornea and lens for refractive lens exchange Retinal issues related to refractive lens exchange Presbyopic lens types, indications, and contraindications for refractive lens exchange Lens- and cornea-based astigmatism correction Intraocular calculations for post refractive surgery eyes for refractive lens exchange Intraoperative wavefront technology 3D high-definition microsurgical visualization and positioning technology Femtosecond laser application in refractive lens exchange Postoperative care and complication management YAG capsulotomy after refractive lens exchange: indications and alternatives Postoperative care and complication management Keratorefractive enhancement Designed for newcomers as well as seasoned eyecare professionals, Refractive Lens Exchange: A Surgical Treatment for Presbyopia is the first book to guide ophthalmic surgeons, optometrists, and technicians through this exciting new field that is emerging as a safe and effective primary surgical treatment for presbyopia.

Are you looking for concise, practical answers to those questions that are often left unanswered by traditional texts and references in oculoplastics? Are you seeking brief, evidence-based advice for common clinical dilemmas or complications? Curbside Consultation in Oculoplastics: 49 Clinical Questions provides quick and direct answers to the thorny questions most commonly posed during a "curbside consultation" between experienced clinicians. Dr. Robert C. Kersten and Dr. Timothy J. McCulley, have designed this unique reference in which oculoplastic specialists offer expert advice, preferences, and opinions on tough clinical questions commonly associated with oculoplastics. The unique Q&A format provides quick access to current information related to oculoplastics with the simplicity of a conversation between two colleagues. Images, diagrams, and references are included to enhance the text and to illustrate common clinical dilemmas. Curbside Consultation in Oculoplastics: 49 Clinical Questions provides information basic enough for residents while also incorporating expert pearls that even high-volume ophthalmologists will appreciate. Residents, fellows, and practicing physicians alike will benefit from the user-friendly and casual format and the expert advice contained within. Some of the questions that are answered:What do I do when a patient on anti-coagulants needs surgery? When does an eyelid lesion need to be biopsied? What are the general treatment guidelines for Graves' ophthalmopathy? How should I treat bacterial orbital cellulitis? How do you distinguish an orbital infection from sterile inflammation? When should I be concerned about systemic disease in a patient with blepharoptosis? What are the oculoplastic uses of botulinum toxin? How do I know when to order an MRI or a CT?

Over the weekend of 21-23 February 1997, a small group gathered in Tallahassee, Florida, at the invitation of Ted Williams, to discuss "photo stasis and related topics." The majority of participants were former students and colleagues of Ted's, but an occasional outsider such as myself was generously included. The papers presented there are collected in this volume. The theory of photo stasis was first outlined in a landmark paper by John Penn and Ted, published in 1986 in Experimental Eye Research. They provided compelling data showing that, in the albino rat eye, levels of rhodopsin, outer-segment length, rhodopsin regeneration rate, and even, perhaps, rhodopsin packing density all depend on the levels of cyclic illumination (12 hours light, 12 hours dark) in which the animal was reared. So, for example, there is fourfold less rhodopsin in a retinal extract derived from an animal reared at 400 lux than in an extract from the retina of an animal reared at 3 lux. Animals reared at intermediate levels of light show intermediate amounts of rhodopsin that are correlated with illumination level. What these data immediately suggested is that the photoreceptor cell can adjust its photon-catching ability in response to the levels of light in which an animal is reared, and they also provided a compelling rationale for outer-segment turnover, a phenomenon discovered 20 years earlier by Richard Young but whose function has remained obscure.

Mechanisms of neural plasticity enable the encoding and memorization of information based on sensory inputs and can be harnessed to partially restore function after CNS assault such as stroke or head trauma. In the present book, experts from the field of visual system plasticity describe and evaluate the evidence for neural mechanisms proposed to underlie CNS plasticity in the major divisions of the brain dedicated to visual processing, the retina, sub-cortical structures and cortex. We present studies from a wide variety of disciplines that range from molecular biology to neurophysiology and computer modeling. Leading investigators discuss their own work, and integrate this research with colleagues from other specializations. The book points out future applications for this research including clinical uses and engineering within the biomedical sciences. This book is an exciting and thought provoking read for all levels of science enthusiast interested in the physical basis of learning and cognition.

This book is designed to provide the busy ophthal inftammation, lacrimal gland tumors and inftamma mologist with a practieal guide to the management tion, lacrimal sac tumors and inftammation, and of lid and ocular adnexal disease. The book encom lid tumors and inftammations. passes more than tumors simply because other in This book provides the ophthalmologist with a ftammatory conditions may mimic tumors in their step-by-step approach to patients with lid and orbital presentation and vice versa. It is not meant to be tumors and inftammations. an encyclopedie, definitive work on a single subject, organized around individual disease entities; instead Acknowledgments it approaches the patient much as clinician does. It concentrates on the patient and considers various disease processes logieally. Work -up, differential We wish to thank all the referring doctors who diagnosis, and initial treatment are discussed. have allowed us to treat their patients with orbital When any patient presents with an orbital or an and ocular adnexal disease and without whom a ocular adnexal mass, the question that needs to be book of this type would have been impossible. We answered is whether the process is due to inftamma also would like to give special thanks to our teachers, Dr. Lorenz E. Zimmerman and Dr. Byron Smith."

I have been asked to write a brief foreword to this volume honoring Hisako Ikeda, providing a review of the accomplishments in our field over the past four decades, when Hisako was an active participant. This I am delighted to do. It has been a most exciting time in vision research and Hisako has been right in the middle of much of the excitement, publishing on a wide variety of topics and providing much new data and many new insights. Hisako's research career can be divided by decades into four quite distinct areas of inquiry. In the 1950s, as a student in Japan, her research interests were psychophysical in nature, and she was concerned with visual illusions, figural aftereffects, and motion detec tion. In the 1960s, after her move to London, she began electrophysiological studies. Much of her work in the 1960s was concerned with the electroretinogram (ERG), its components, and the use of this electrical response for evaluating spectral sensitivities of the eye and retinal degenerations. This work represented the beginning of her electrodiagnostic clinical work, which continued until her retirement."

Minister, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Honourary President, Honoured guests, Ladies and gentlemen, Dear colleagues and friends: On behalf of the Ophthalmological Society of the German Democratic Republic I welcome you to this symposium. I am glad to see so many experts from more than 20 countries of all parts of the world assembled here in Schwerin, who have travelled far and overcome many obstacles in doing so. I wish to extend a special welcome to the Vice-Minister of Health of the GDR, whom we should like to thank for the continuing generous support of the government of the GDR for this event. It is a great pleasure to welcome scientists from socialist countries such as the Soviet union, Poland, Cechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia and from non socialist countries such as USA, Canada, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and far away Japan and Australia. I have the great honour to welcome Prof. FRANQOIS as our Honourary President, our scientific directors Prof. VOLKOV from Leningrad and Prof. BLODI from Iowa City, and Dr. ZIMMERMAN and other members of the Verhoeff Society, and Prof. GAILLOUD and Prof. MEYER-SCHWIcKERATH as prominent representatives of the Club Jules Gonin. We are delighted that you have accepted our invitation.

Neuro-ophthalmology, like in any field of medicine, has many areas where controversy exists in diagnosis and treatment. Controversies in Neuro-Ophthalmology provides a comprehensive overview on the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of neuro-ophthalmic disorders and specifically addresses areas where there is a general lack of consensus amongst practitioners. Each chapter opens with a case to illustrate a pertinent controversy and then poses a clinical question. The issue is then discussed by world leading experts to provide a balanced viewpoint. Designed to foster vigorous debate among colleagues, this book is essential reading for neuro-ophthalmologists, ophthalmologists, and neurologists.

As there recently has been increased interest in the applications of optical techniques in biomedical research and clinical diagnostics, it seemed to be appropriate to organize a comprehensive international conference on optics in medicine and biology. Such a broad international meeting had not been held before. An international conference on Optics in Biomedical Sciences was organized and took place in Graz, Austria, September 7th through 11th, 1981, sponsored by the International Commission for Optics (ICO) in co operation with the European Optical Committee, the Austrian Association on Biomedical Engineering, and the German Society for Applied Optics. It seemed timely to establish a forum for communication among specialists on an international level. This book, presenting the papers given at this conference, demonstrates the state of the art of this increasingly expanding field of applications of optics. Furthermore, the interested reader will find an extended list of references in the various contributions. This book helps to overcome the difficulty, inherent in all interdisciplinary research fields, of gathering widely scattered literature. The contributions to this book are focussed on the following topics: Biomedical applications of - unconventional imaging in microscopy, - image processing, - interferometry and holography, - speckle-techniques and spectroscopy, - optometry, and - Moire methods. In addition, the brilliant and humorous closing remarks of Nils Abramson from the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, have been included."

The papers included in this volume were presented as a part of the dedication of a new clinical/teaching/research facility for the University of Houston College of Optometry, March 27-31, 1977. These papers were intended to cover the "state of the art" knowledge in all areas of visual system investigation. While we may not have quite reached our goal of covering all areas, the papers presented here cover a broad cross-section of investigations in vision. However, without doubt, the intention of "state of the art" coverage was achieved in all areas discussed. From the beginning, with the presentation of Nobel Laureate, Ragnar Granit, to the end, with consideration of Vision Health Care Delivery Systems, each speaker was thorough in treatment of his/her subject. From studies of the ~ and of contact lenses, through examination of crystalline lens function, ocular pathologies and retina! function, the eye is very thoroughly considered. Much of this volume covers material dealing with the process of vision after coding of information in the eye. Psychophysical studies of vision compare and contrast with neurophysiological studies of v1sual function; and a very thorough section on the development of visual system function should prove valuable to a wide cross section of teachers, researchers, and clinicians. All-in-all, the contents of this volume represent a vast array of knowledge about the visual system, and this should be a valuable teaching/research resource for many years.

In this book the authors relate and discuss the idea that perceptual processes can be considered at many levels. A phenomenon that appears at one level may not be the same as a superficially similar phenomenon that appears at a different level. For example "induced motion" can be analyzed in terms of eye movements or at the retinal level or at a much higher cognitive level: how do these analyses fit together? The concept of levels also makes us think of the flow of information between levels, which leads to a consideration of the roles of top-down and bottom-up (or feed-forward, feed-back) flow. There are sections devoted to vestibular processing, eye movement processing and processing during brightness perception. The final section covers levels of processing in spatial vision. All scientists and graduate students working in vision will be interested in this book as well as people involved in using visual processes in computer animations, display design or the sensory systems of machines.

The topics in this volume explore the etiology, cellular mechanisms, epidemiology, genetics, models and potential therapeutic measures for the blinding diseases of retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. Special focus is highlighted in the areas of Mechanisms of Photoreceptor Degeneration and Cell Death (extremely important because very little is known how or why photoreceptors die in these diseases, despite an abundance of genetic information), Age-Related Macular Degeneration (with several novel approaches to its analysis), Usher Syndrome (the most severe form of retinitis pigmentosa, which includes an early or congenital loss of hearing along with blindness), and Gene Therapy. In addition, the section on Basic Science Related to Retinal Degeneration is particularly strong with several laboratories reporting on new discoveries in the area of outer segment phagocytosis, a key component of photoreceptor-retinal pigment epithelial cell interactions in normal and degenerating retinas.

"No attainment is ever final" Vascular disorders of the optic disc and nerve are important not only to the ophthalmologist but also to the neurologist and the internist. To the first specialty group they represent one cause of blindness or severe visual impairment; to the second group the optic disc edema and optic atrophy seen in these disorders can pose serious problems of diagnosis, or give indica tions of the involvement of the cerebral circulation; while to the last group they are frequently indicative of systemic disease, particularly of the cardiovas cular system. Recent advances in our knowledge of the blood supply of the optic nerve head have shed a significant new light on the subject. With the recent advent of fluorescein fundus angiography, an extra dimension has been added to the study of the ocular and optic disc circulations, and we have entered into a new era in the understanding of ocular vascular disorders "in vivo". In the pre-angiography era, postmortem injection studies, although very valuable, did not completely reveal the vascular pattern of the optic disc in the living, in health, and disease. The ophthalmoscope, without doubt, has been valuable in assessing optic disc lesions, but could not give us informa tion on the circulation of the eye and optic disc "in vivo".

This book highlights the unique aspects of oncologic ophthalmology as a medical and surgical discipline practiced at a comprehensive cancer center. Multi-disciplinary management of ocular, orbital and adnexal cancers are highlighted using simple and tried-and-true algorithms. In addition, ocular problems caused as a direct result of cancer treatment are reviewed using illustrative photographs and case presentations. The content is provided by full-time ophthalmology faculty and fellows at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Experts in complementary disciplines such as ophthalmic pathology, dermatopathology, radiation oncology, radiology, and other surgical subspecialties have brought their unique perspective to each chapter.

The book is abundant with clinical photographs as well as interesting case presentations that will help the clinician correctly diagnose cancers of the orbit, eye, and adnexal structures, initiate appropriate management, as well as recognize and treat common ocular complications of cancer therapy.

Opening Remarks of the President, 2nd ISVO, Professor G.M. Breinin, M.D. The study of visual processes is surely unique as a clinical specialty, in corporating the disciplines of physics, chemistry, physiology, and psycho logy. Diagnosing and correcting disorders of the visual system in these last two decades of the 20th century has brought all of us into close prox imity with computer sciences, laser technology, the marvels of electronic microcircuitry, and the impressive developments in optical materials. Dur ing the course of this meeting we shall be hearing about how these different technologies can interact with one another, and we shall discover that such interaction may produce new diagnostic tools and new optical devices. We shall also learn that the optical qualities of the eye change during life, producing subtle and complex alterations in vision. On behalf of the members and organizing committee of the American Commit tee on Optics and Visual Physiology and our co-sponsoring organization, the Optical Society of America, I welcome you to this second symposium on visual optics. The first symposium took place in Japan in 1978 and, like the pres ent one, was a satellite meeting of the International Congress of Ophthal mology. The third symposium in this series will take place in Italy in 1986 as part of the next session of the International Congress of Ophthalmology.

An International Symposium on Low Vision was sponsored by the Centre for Sight Enhancement of the School of Optometry, University of Waterloo in June 1986, bringing low vision researchers and clinicians together from a number of countries. The unique feature of the conference is the multi-disciplinary approach towards low vision care. A total of 44 papers were presented in the three day period by speakers of note from the fields of optometry, ophthalmology, psychophysics, special education, nursing and vision rehabilitation. The papers deal with issues in diagnostic science, low vision assessment and rehabilitation. The proceedings volume is ideal for clinicians and vision scientists to update their understanding of low vision research and clinical practice.

During the past several decades, a significant international research effort has been directed towards understanding the composition and regulation of the preocular tear film. This effort has been motivated by the recognition that the tear film plays a critical role in maintaining corneal and conjunctival integrity, protecting against microbial challenge and preserving visual acuity. In addition, research has been stimulated by the knowledge that alteration or deficiency of the tear film, which occurs in numerous individuals throughout the world, may lead to desiccation of the ocular surface, ulceration and perforation of the cornea, an increased incidence of infectious disease, and potentionally pronounced visual disability and blindness.