Book review

Ophthalmic Care. Edited by Janet Marsden, Wiley, 2006.

Reviewed by Patricia Fathers
Senior Lecturer, Health Promotion, School of Health & Social Sciences, Middlesex University, London, UK.

An international team of ophthalmic practitioners has been gathered to write the content of this book, which offers a strong evidence-based text for effective and informed practice. The team of contributors represents all ophthalmic disciplines.

Ophthalmic Care is divided into three sections: function and structure of the eye; patient care in a variety of settings, which includes patient education; ophthalmic problems and the systematic approach to care. Twenty-four chapters cover the content of these three sections and include, in the patient care section, an excellent chapter on the challenge of eye health care in developing countries.

The book aims to bridge a gap that exists in current texts by providing ophthalmology professionals with the necessary evidence to underpin their practice. It succeeds with this aim. The book offers depth and breadth of content and would serve as a comprehensive resource for all ophthalmic practitioners.

The book usefully includes an appendix list of a range of eye health care support addresses with websites, and also a glossary of ophthalmic terms. Colour images are found collected towards the back of the book and, although rather condensed and without spacing around the individual slides, which would enhance the images further, nevertheless provide a rich illustration resource for the reader.

An accessible and comprehensive book that fully integrates the contribution of knowledge from all ophthalmic disciplines and offers essential reading for practice.

Ophthalmic Care is available from the International Resource Centre, ICEH. Discount price: UK £25 plus post and packing (for developing countries only). Email: sue.stevens@Lshtm.ac.uk

Courses

Community Eye Health Training: Certificate course in Community Eye Health

Date: October 16-December 8, 2006.
Venue: Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology (KCCO), Tanzania.
Course aims and objectives: The KCCO and its partners at ICEH and the University of Cape Town received a grant from the Nuffi eld Foundation to support Community Eye Health training in Africa. This course aims to equip eye health professionals with the skills necessary to develop, implement, and manage a VISION 2020 programme. The eight-week course will focus on disease control, planning, human resource development, management, bridging strategies, and budgeting.
Target audience: Ophthalmologists, project managers, and other eye care professionals. The students will be expected to return to government or NGO-salaried positions, where they will use their training to maximum effect and implement the plans they develop during the course. It is anticipated that participants will be individuals whose primary responsibility is to implement a ‘district’ (population 1 million) VISION 2020 programme. The course is open to participants from the whole of Africa. To ensure good interaction, it is envisaged that 10-15 people will attend the course.
Further details and admission procedures: email Dr Paul Courtright at pcourtright@kcco.net

British Council for Prevention of Blindness (BCPB) Fellowship Programme

Closing date for receipt of applications: 30 September 2006.
Aims of the Fellowships: To fund research and training in prevention of blindness for high-calibre clinicians and scientists from the UK and overseas.Projects must further the goals of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight, the elimination of avoidable blindness. In 2007, BCPB seeks to fund one Fellow from the UK and one Fellow from a low-income country to undertake projects that focus on Africa. Each Fellowship will be worth up to GB£60,000 a year for two or three years. Applications must be submitted jointly by the Fellowship candidate and the supervisor at the host institution in the UK.
Further details: For full information and an application form, see www.bcpb.org or contact Jackie Webber at BCPB, 59-60 Russell Square, London WC1B 4HP, UK or email: info@bcpb.org
Registered charity number 270941

6th International Glaucoma Symposium (I.G.S)

Date: March 28-31, 2007.
Venue: Athens, Greece.
Information: Symposium Organisers, Kenes International - Global Congress Organizers and Association Management Services, 17 Rue du Cendrier, PO Box 1726, CH-1211 Geneva 1, Switzerland. Tel: (+41) 22 908 0488, Fax: (+41) 22 732 2850. Email: glaucoma@kenes.com
Website: www.kenes.com/glaucoma