Introduction

The Basic and Clinical Science Course has undergone continuous evolution since its inception. These volumes originated as a topic outline with suggested reading lists, including primary and secondary sources for each topic. In recent years, the books have grown into far more detailed reviews of each of the ophthalmic subspecialties, taking on many of the attributes of textbooks.

Section 5, Neuro-Ophthalmology, has likewise evolved. With the revision published in 2001, we introduced a relatively major change in format. To increase clinical relevance, the text was reorganized to take a symptom-driven approach, focusing on how to approach patients with neuroophthalmic complaints. The emphasis here is on the examination—both basic and extended—and the appropriate use of adjunctive studies to determine the status of the visual system as a whole. With this edition, we have simplified some of the diagnostic approaches, revised much of the illustrative material, and updated references.

This book is in no way comprehensive; thus, we have included a list of some of the more useful secondary sources of information, as well as references with primary source material. We have endeavored to make this book more readable as well as clinically relevant and hope that it will help to instill confidence in approaching patients with common clinical neuro-ophthalmic problems.

In several chapters throughout the book, you will see links to the NOVEL (Neuro-Ophthalmology Virtual Education Library) website of NANOS (North America Neuro-Ophthalmology Society). This is a web-accessible collection of images, video, lectures, and other digital media, containing openaccess, copyrighted resources. Once you have accessed the collections, you can navigate through to the relevant resource. See the website for more information: http://library.med.utah.edu/NOVEL/.