Basic Ophthalmology is designed to help the user obtain an appropriate ocular history and learn the examination techniques for a complete eye evaluation.

From the history and clinical findings the reader should be able to diagnose and manage or refer common ocular disorders. The history of this textbook began in 1975 with the publication by the American Academy of Ophthalmology of a study guide in outline form for medical students.

The book’s developers identified seven common problem areas in ophthalmology and developed study objectives. Each subsequent edition was changed based on suggestions from users.

The fifth edition, which was developed by the joint committee of the Amer­ican Academy of Ophthalmology and the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology, abandoned the outline form for chapters with expository text.

The sixth edition, published in 1993, was one of the American Academy of Ophthalmology's most popular clinical education products...

Do you read imperfectly?

Can you observe then that when you look at the first word, or the first letter, of a sentence you do not see best where you are looking; that you see other words, or other letters, just as well as or better than the one you are looking at?

Do you observe also that the harder you try to see the worse you see?

Now close your eyes and rest them, remembering some color, like black or white, that you can remember perfectly. Keep them closed until they feel rested, or until the feeling of strain has been completely relieved. Now open them and look at the first word or letter of a sentence for a fraction of a second. If you have been able to relax, partially or completely, you will have a flash of improved or clear vision, and the area seen best will be smaller.

After opening the eyes for this fraction of a second, close them again quickly, still remembering the color, and keep them closed until they again feel rested. Then again open them for a fraction of a second. Continue this alternate resting of the eyes and flashing of the letters for a time, and you may soon find that you can keep your eyes open longer than a fraction of a second without losing the improved vision.

If your trouble is with distant instead of near vision, use the same method with distant letters.

In this way you can demonstrate for yourself the fundamental principle of the cure of imperfect sight by treatment without glasses.

If you fail, ask someone with perfect sight to help you.