Edward Wilson, Rupal Trivedi and Suresh Pandey

Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, 2005 ISBN 0-7817-4307-9, £84

At last we have a proper textbook in paediatric cataract surgery for paediatric ophthalmologists and cataract surgeons with a special interest in the paediatric age group. This is a very comprehensive up-to-date textbook, totaling 57 chapters. In addition, there is an appendix of review articles by the authors spanning over the last 10 years.

The layout of the chapters is very well organised, starting from the basic signs of the paediatric cataracts, the preoperative assessment through to the journey of the cataract surgery itself, and the management discussion of the various types of lens implants. It also deals with complicated types of paediatric cataracts and cataracts in different anatomical anomalies and the management of intraoperative and postoperative complications. There is a separate section regarding refractive surgery with aphakic intraocular lenses and paediatric refractive surgery. It also includes a chapter at the end where a panel of expert paediatric ophthalmologists discuss their management of the various aspects of paediatric cataract surgery.

The overall layout of the diagrams and clinical pictures are well illustrated and the comprehensive tables and a summary of the individual chapters are well presented.

I think it is certainly the best-available paediatric cataract surgery textbook in the market and the most comprehensive state of the art overview for this very difficult but challenging subject.