Pediatric Ophthalmology

Pediatric Ophthalmology

Dr. P.K. Mukherjee

MS

Former Professor of Upgraded Department of Ophthamology,

Pt. JNM Medial College, Raipur

NEW AGE

NEW AGE INTERNATIONAL (P) LIMITED, PUBLISHES

New Delhi l Bangalore l Chennai l Cochin l Guwahati l Hyderabad

Jalandhar l Kolkata l Lucknow l Mumbai l Ranchi

This Book is Dedicated to Those children

whose sight could have been saved by

timely intervention

Preface

With fifteen percent of population in pediatric age group and development of pediatrics as a separate discipline ago, it was but natural that many of the specialities in medicine and surgery ramify into their pediatric sub-specialities and ultimately become super-speciality.

Development of Pediatric Ophtalmology is part of this useful diversification. In the developed countries pediatric opthalmology has reached a status of super-speciality. Pediatric opthalmology is still being managed by general opthalmologist in developing countries. To overcome enormous volume of ocular morbidity and blindness is children, WHO has included childhood blindness and errors of refraction on priority in its VISION 2020 programme. The Govt. of India on its part has decided to develop the pediatric opthalmology as a separate speciality manned by opthalmologist specially trained in pediatric ophthalmology.

Most of the general ophthalmologists are ill at ease in examining a child with ocular problem. They use the adult method of examination to elicit clinical science is small children with frustrating outcome. Such an impasse may be overcome if the training in pediatric opthalmology is initiated at undergraduate level and developed at postgraduate level. This is immensely hindered by paucity of books in pediatric ophthalmology.

The present work is an attempt to produce a concise book on pediatric ophthalmology. The book has separate chapters on individual ocular systems. The initials chapters deal with development of eyes in general, peculiarities of eyes in childern and methods of examination suited for such eyes. The other chapters deal with applied anatomy, physiology, detailed embryology of each system, their disease and disorders.

The medical management has been discussed briefly. Emphasis has been given to preventive aspects. Surgical procedures have only been outlined. The surgical steps and their details have not been included, for which the students should refer to standard books on ocular surgery.

The book is meant as a handbook for postgraduates, teachers and reference book for undergraduates. The book has been written in English that is understood by English speaking students of third world.

Some portions in the book on cursory glance may seem to be repetitive. This has been done in intentionally to emphasize the importance of the topics referred to.

Dr. P.K. Mukherjee

Acknowledgement

I am thankful to a large number of my colleagues and friends who initiated me in writing this book. The real inspiration behind this book remains my wife Protima, who prodded me to keep the schedule. My daughter’s Protibha and Preeti joined their mother in cajoling me. I am thankful to my daughter’s for persuading thier spouses Satyadeep and Abir respectively to get involved in the project and spend endless hours in typing, arranging and rearranging the text in initial stages.

Padma Shree Dr. A.T. Dabke, Prof. and Head of Department of Pediatrics, Dean Pt. J.N.M. Medical College Raipur, gave me free access to his personal library. He was always available to solve any of the pediatric problems that seemed to dodge me. I extend my heartfelt thanks to him.

My sincere thanks are due to members of Upgraded Department of Ophthalmology, Pt. J.N.M. Medical College, Raipur, that includes Dr. S.L. Adile, Prof. and H.O.D., Prof. A.K. Chandrakar, Dr. M.L. Garg, Associate Professor, Dr. Nidhi Pandey, Asst. Professor of Ophthalmology, all of them were generous to keep me supplied with books and journals. Dr. Subhash Mishra and Dr. B.K. Das of mobile unit helped me writing the parts concerned with community ophthalmology. I thank them.

Dr. Bijoya Sarkar, Prof. of Chest diseases, helped me in writing chapter of systemic disorders and there ocular manifestation. Dr. Manik Chatterjee, Asstt. Prof. of Anatomy helped me in writing the applied anatomy and development of the eye. Dr. B.P. Sharma, Dr. Preeti Gupta gave useful suggestion in writing chapters on retina, vitreous, squint and glaucoma. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to them.

Shri Arup Bhattacharya saw me through some difficult parts of the manuscript. Shri Maneesh Dandekar of Hyper Soft Computers, took immense trouble in typing the final printout of entire manuscript. He also managed my day to day correspondence with efficiency. My thanks are to them.

The book would not have been possible but for co-operation of all the members of the staff of New Age International (Pvt.) Publishers, New Delhi. I thank them profusedly. Shri Saumya Gupta, Managing Director of New Age International had been kind enough with useful suggestion. He deserves special thanks for it.

Dr. P.K. Mukherjee