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Recent technological advances in the diagnosis of macular disorders have enhanced our understanding of these diseases. At the same time, advances in small-gauge vitrectomy instrumentation and techniques have improved the safety and efficiency of surgery, allowing macular conditions that would have otherwise resulted in blindness to be treated effectively, preserving patients'sight. Macular surgery continues to evolve rapidly, thanks to exciting future technology trends. This book provides a detailed and up-to-date overview of the field. It begins with essential information on macular anatomy and pathophysiology, examination techniques, and surgical instrumentation. In turn, it discusses a broad range of disease processes, including macular holes, epiretinal membrane, vitreomacular traction and myopic maculopathy. The role and benefits of advanced vitrectomy techniques including submacular surgery, prosthetic vision, robotic surgery, and stem cell and gene therapy are addressed in detail. A review of perioperative care and potential complications rounds out the coverage.

The elderly represent the fastest growing segment of the population in developed countries, reflected in the patient population presenting to EDs and hospitals. These patients more often than not have greater co-morbidities, more complicated workups and utilize more laboratory and radiologic services. This text is designed to teach emergency physicians how best to care for this specific demographic of patients. It addresses physiologic changes, high-risk conditions, and atypical presentations associated with elderly patients in the ED that result in frequent misdiagnosis or delays in diagnosis. It instructs the readers how best to care for elderly patients in order to minimize morbidity and mortality, addressing some of the difficult psychosocial issues that confront health care providers that care for elderly patients, such as psychiatric disease and end-of-life care. The utility of this text is not limited to emergency physicians, but it should be useful to all health care providers involved in the treatment of elderly patients with acute medical or surgical conditions.