Clinical Insights and Examination Techniques in Ophthalmology

Introduction.- Overview of Statistics and Epidemiology for clinical diagnosis- connecting the dots.- History taking- The most important clinical test.- Visual function and its assessment.- Evaluating refractive error and prescribing glasses.- The slit lamp examination.- Examination of Lids, Adenexa and Orbit.- Examination of Ocular motility and Squint.- Examination of cornea and ocular surface.- Examination of Sclera.- Examination of Iris and Pupil.- Examination of lens.- Clinical evaluation of glaucoma patient.- Examination of posterior segment.- Neuro-ophthalmology examination.- Examination of a child.- Systemic examination and examination of the sinuses, nose and throat.- Putting it all together for the patient.

This book elucidates the principles of sound clinical examination in ophthalmology. Based on the author's extensive teaching experience, it makes the case for arriving at a diagnosis through detailed clinical examinations, including history taking, knowledge of clinical epidemiology, and using only the most relevant clinical tests. Starting with basic chapters on relevant statistics and clinical epidemiology, the book covers history-taking, visual function assessment, slit lamp examination, and examinations of each important field (e.g. the lids, orbit, cornea, iris and pupil, glaucoma patients, sclera, lens, posterior segment, pediatric patient and neuro-ophthalmology) in separate chapters.

Full of practical tips on examining patients at the clinic, the book also describes the rationale behind each clinical test and its interpretation.

It is also hoped that teachers who come across this book will evaluate students on the basis of these relevant clinical examinations rather than quizzing them on esoteric clinical tests that are not routinely used and are of little clinical value.

This book is intended to help all ophthalmologists, beginners and veterans alike, improve their clinical examination thinking and skills.

Professor (Dr) Thomas Kuriakose, MBBS, DNB, FRCSEd, completed his graduate and postgraduate studies at the Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore, India. Followed by three years of ophthalmology training in Edinburgh, UK, his initial sub-specialty exposure was in the cornea, and gradually shifted to an interest in the posterior segment. In addition, he has maintained his interest in general ophthalmology, which was essential for teaching CMC's undergraduate and graduate students. He joined the faculty of CMC Vellore in 1992 and is currently a professor of ophthalmology there. He has been an examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh, University of Malaysia and several Indian universities including the National Board of Examinations. He has over 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals and his work has been referred to in ophthalmology textbooks.