A cataract is a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light. This book reviews research in the field of cataracts inclusive of the application of virtual reality in cataract surgery simulation for ophthalmology training and an analysis of the surface properties of four different intraolcuar lens materials currently used in cataract surgery. Also discussed, herein, is the future of cataract surgeries; disability glare effects and cataracts as a problem of road safety in driving; the pharmacological treatment of ocular inflammatory diseases; among others.

The Ocular Biomechanics Group was established in 2002 with one clear target; to develop a virtual reality model of the human eye that can be used effectively and reliably to predict ocular response to surgery, injury and disease. This ambitious, and seemingly illusive, target helped plan our activities over the last 6 years and will still be focusing our efforts as we strive to create the necessary knowledge using experimental methods, build the predictive tools using programming and analysis means, and validate the findings in both the laboratory and the clinic. This book presents an overview of our biomechanical studies from laboratory material characterisation to finite element numerical simulation. The chapter describes what has been achieved and points at the remaining gaps in our knowledge. It explains that while much remains unknown in ocular behaviour, we are now in a good position to use available knowledge to progress predictive modelling and use it in actual applications such as improving the accuracy of tonometry techniques, planning of refractive surgeries and design of contact lenses. The discussion focuses on the cornea, although scleral biomechanics receive some mention. The chapter also refers to microstructural, biomechanical and topographic studies conducted by other research groups. Coverage of these studies has been necessary to provide a more complete image of current understanding of corneal biomechanics.

The consequences of aging populations combined with the strain to the human eye caused by computers and widespread poor nutritional practices has resulted in an upsurge of research dealing with vision. This new book presents leading-edge research in this field focusing on glaucoma, corneal transplantation and bacterial eye infections.

Retinal tissue may degenerate for a number of reasons. Among them are: artery or vein occlusion, diabetic retinopathy, R.L.F./R.O.P. or disease (usually hereditary). Retinitis pigmentosa, retinoschisis, lattic degeneration, and macular degeneration are characterised by progressive types of retinal degeneration. This book presents the latest research in the field.

The consequences of ageing populations combined with the strain to the human eye caused by computers and widespread poor nutritional practices has resulted in an upsurge of research dealing with vision. This book presents the latest research from around the world in this dynamic field.

Astigmatism is an optical aberration characterized by rays propagating into two perpendicular planes focusing at different distances, thus providing two different foci delimiting an intermediate area of focus called the Conoid of Sturm. This book discusses the types, diagnosis and treatment options of astigmatism. The topics include management of astigmatism in patients after a corneal transplant; power vectors; toric intraocular lenses for the correction of astigmatism during cataract surgery; irregular astigmatism management; and a comprehensive overview of preexisting astigmatism during phacoemulsification.

The anesthetic implications of eye muscle surgery are varied and numerous. Being a condition that can be seen in all age groups, the anesthetist or anesthesiologist will see pediatric, adult, and geriatric patient populations. This book examines and analyzes the causes, symptoms and treatment options to strabismus and nystagmus. It discusses benign paroxysmal positional vertigo; strabismus surgery; central positional dizziness; the treatment of intermittent exotropia in childhood; and nystagmus in posterior fossa stroke patients.

This book discusses the types, risk factors, treatment options and potential complications of cataracts and cataract surgery. Topics include the clinical techniques used to assess the visual and optical performance of intraocular lenses; the epidemiology and morphology of cataracts; a practical guide to the management of intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS); a comparison of safety and visual improvement of phacoemulsification with sutureless single-port 25-gauge vitrectomy versus phacoemulsification alone for eyes with extremely shallow anterior chamber; teaching and learning cataract surgery; and phacolytic glaucoma.

This is a textbook for students and practitioners involved in the management of patients with ocular allergy. Allergic disorders of the ocular surface affect more than 20% of the general population and they are ocular diseases in which IgE- and/or T-lymphocyte mediated mechanisms are involved. They can have a significant impact on an individual's quality of life. This book addresses the important aspects of allergic disorders of the ocular surface with particular emphasis on the pathomechanism and pharmacotherapy of the different types of ocular allergy. The cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathomechanism of allergic eye diseases, as well as the lymphocytic activation process are also discussed. The book will provide the reader with considerable insight into the pharmacotherapy of allergic eye diseases with emphasis on the clinical pharmacology of anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical agents.

Eye movements are a key factor in human vision. During steady state fixation where the visual attention is voluntarily centred on a fixation estimulous, the eye shows involuntary small movements that exhibit an erratic trajectory. This book describes fixational eye movements, their mathematical models, and the factors that affect fixation. Also explored, herein, is Congential Nystagmus, which is one of the diseases that affect binocular vision, reducing the visual quality of a subject, saccadic eye movements, eye movement patterns in hemispatial neglect and eye-gaze input systems used by people with severe disabilities.

The modern physiology of vision has saved up many facts which contradict the accepted approach to mechanisms of primary visual perception. It had always been considered that an image of some object primarily constructed by the eye cornea and lens first unequivocally is projected to the matrix of photoreceptors (rod and cone cells), and then is exposed to processing in several layers of the nervous cells arranged behind them. However, the optical image is actually projected to photoreceptors through the layers of nervous cells, i.e. our retina is inverted. This book offers a new model of primary visual perception which is well co-ordinated with morphological and experimental data and eliminates the arisen contradictions.

Geomorphology is the scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them whereas plate tectonics specifically describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere. This book presents theory, methodology and applications, as well as studies of specific geographic regions. A model to evaluate the effect of groundwater fluctuations on the development of gullies and hence, on landscape evolution is analysed. The use of cosmogenic nuclides in geomorphology and earth-surface processes is also reviewed and uncertainties and limitations related to current understanding of the physical properties of cosmogenic nuclides are summarised. In addition, this book studies plate tectonics in several regions of the world, including Siberia, Western North America, North Africa, India, and Northwest Australia.

Retinis Pigmentosa (RP) includes a group of progressive hereditary retinal diseases involving degeneration of rod and cone photoreceptors, predominantly the former, and is one of the leading causes of hereditary blindness in the developed world. Clinical symptoms include nyctalopia, progressive visual field loss, and deterioration in visual acuity in adolescence. It affects one in 3000-5000 individuals and can be caused by mutations in more than 40 genes. In addition, Retinitis Pigmentosa may exist either alone (nonsyndromic) or as part of a neurological or systemic disorder, such as Usher's syndrome and Infantile Refsum's disease. There are few effective clinical treatments for retinitis pigmentosa which affects an estimated 1.5 million individuals world-wide. However, understanding the histopathologic changes occurring in RP is critical to understanding the rationale for current therapies, as well as to develop future therapies. This book highlights the most recent research done in the field.

Bacterial eye infections are among the leading causes of vision loss and ocular morbidity, yet the widespread use of antibiotics, particularly in combating systemic infections, has led to increased resistance. This book describes studies that have reported resistance to fourth-generation fluoroquinolones used for treating ocular infections. Achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes, which will require new antimicrobial agents with less potential for promoting resistance is also discussed. This book explores endophthalmitis as an intraocular inflammation mainly involving the ocular fluids. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is also reviewed, which is a major opportunistic pathogen and a common cause of bacterial keratitis, especially in contact lens wearers. The new classes of antibiotics have offered alternatives to treat this otherwise antibiotic-resistant bacteria but reports of continued resistance indicate the need for novel areas such as the use of immunisations with attenuated strains of bacteria and treatment with non-antibiotic compounds. Myopia is the most common eyesight problem in the world and is often mild and there are no serious problems. However, it may sometimes lead to blindness. This book explores laser as a way to correct myopia as well as a study of myopia.Finally, this book includes two approaches to resolve myopic macular retinoschisis; one is an approach from inside the eye and the other is from outside the eye. An investigation of eyes for corneal, refractional, and biometric changes, which resulted in the conclusion that there is a statistically significant myopic shift after scleral buckling surgery, is evaluated.

This introduction to optics is intended as a supplement to a first course in undergraduate optics. This lively book conveys key modern terminology, and reinforces what it teaches with hundreds of fully worked out problems that run the gamut from candles to lasers.