In the last 3 decades, a tremendous advancement has been achieved in the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of ocular disorders, This led to and will lead to development of new therapeutic modalities.

The first edition of this comprehensive book presents our current knowledge on the pathophysiology of ocular pathologies and diseases. The publisher state that this book is a companion to the classic “Adler’s Physiology of the Eye.” The editors have wide experience in editing excellent ophthalmology books, including “Albert and Jakobiec’s Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology” by the same publisher. The authors have variable experience, and most of them are from the States. Therefore, the English is fluent. Some authors are specialists, scientists, while others are fellows. The book has an elegant format on a glossy paper with superb clinical color images. It is well-updated. The book is organized into sections; each addresses a different ocular structure from the front to the back of the eye. Each section contains several chapters addressing different disorders and pathologies. The number of chapters is 83. Each chapter is usually divided into background or overview, pathology, etiology and/or pathophysiology, sometimes management, conclusions, and key references. However, the order of the chapters is not uniform. In some chapters, the pathophysiology precedes management, while in others the arrangement is opposite. The boxes included in the chapters summarize the text. The 330 color diagrams accompanying almost every chapter are depicting the pathophysiologic mechanisms of the diseases are vivid and of utmost importance. However, many do not show the stages in which interference may be obtained.

The book contains a pin code to online access to the electronic version (e-book) through www.expertconsult.com. This is a novel feature of ophthalmic literature that will probably gain more popularity in the future. The e-book is identical to the printed one. It allows easy search from any computer for queries, and contains a full list of the references, which is only partial in the printed version. By clicking on the title of the reference, the reader reaches the abstract on PubMed® (Medline®). However, it is stated that the access to the Web site is limited until the next edition is published, or until the current edition is no longer offered to sale by Elsevier, which will limit the access time for this book. It is expected that the publisher will find a way to extend the access to the electronic version online or on CD-ROM.

The pathophysiology is limited to the most probable mechanism. For instance, the chapters on age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) do not mention the alternation in lipid deposition in the sclera and hard and soft drusen that may play a role in the progression to exudative ARMD. The treatment options for each disease are absent from many chapters and in those where they do exist, they are usually very succinct, in contrast to the other part of the book's title on the pathophysiology. Hopefully, these will be added in future editions.

This book is aimed for anyone who is interested in the mechanisms behind the clinical manifestations of ocular disorders. It will reveal many parts in the puzzle of ocular diseases, but still many others are to be discovered.