The editors of this well-illustrated and written textbook very clearly state in their Preface that their goal in producing this textbook was not to attempt to be all-encompassing, but to provide a more focused and directed approach to the topics of each chapter. Overall, the chapters are arrayed in a traditional manner, with an initial chapter dedicated to the examination of the pediatric patient, while subsequent chapters are arrayed in anatomic fashion from the front to the back of the eye. There is extensive coverage of both common and uncommon disorders, which should be of great benefit to trainees as well as comprehensive ophthalmologists who may encounter patients with these conditions very infrequently. The editors also have chosen expert authors who can share not only a comprehensive review of available evidence and literature but also their personal tips and experience to guide the reader in the practical aspects of the material.

This does not mean that the common subjects are given short shrift. The section on examination techniques and basic management of refractive errors and amblyopia is richly illustrated with practical photos and diagrams of how and when to perform diagnostic tests such as measurement of accommodation and AC-to-A ratios. These fundamental methods are covered in other texts but not in the step-by-step manner shown here with sidebar case examples to reinforce the concepts. As a neuro-ophthalmologist who also manages adult strabismus, I found these chapters to be an outstanding review of some methods and conditions that I employ and see less commonly in my clinical practice.

A number of chapters and chapter sections demonstrate the use of new diagnostic imaging technologies such as wide-field fundus photography and angiography and ocular coherence tomography (OCT) and how to use them in children. A major challenge in using these techniques in children is in the simple act of capturing the images before the child moves, loses interest, or decides not to cooperate. The authors again give practical advice based on their own knowledge, and such information alone would justify obtaining this textbook as a guide. These chapters also provide a number of useful illustrations with case examples that help the reader to understand the interpretation of the images and also to recognize some pitfalls and common errors. For example, OCT in a patient with optic atrophy and papilledema that leads to a falsely normal-appearing retinal nerve fiber layer is shown with corresponding neuroimaging of obstructive hydrocephalus.

Finally, although some chapters are less “case-based” than others, they all provide some useful case illustrations and diagnostic flowcharts that will guide the less familiar reader who is confronted with a pediatric patient who has, for example, suspected glaucoma or new onset nystagmus. The chapter authors wisely do not spend much time writing about very specific treatment options or techniques for particular diseases, recognizing such information rapidly becomes outdated and even incorrect. There are, however, a number of very practical Appendices including a description of strabismus surgery instruments and a guide to IOL power calculations.

In his Foreword, Dr. Gene Helveston wisely comments that textbooks must provide value beyond what can be searched on the Internet, and I think this book has achieved its goal of providing a practical guide written by expert authors in a style accessible to residents, fellows, and comprehensive ophthalmologists. I suspect pediatric ophthalmologists also would benefit from the tips and descriptions regarding patients with less common and/or more challenging disorders.