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Preface

      The sixth edition of Veterinary Ophthalmology, released in March 2021, serves as the preeminent clinical and visual science text and reference in the world in this field and has been referred as the “gold standard” and the “blue bible.” The sixth edition was expanded from 2170 pages to 2700 pages and divided into two volumes of about the same number of pages to accommodate the continued expansion in knowledge and progression of this discipline. This textbook serves as the base for the fourth edition of the Essentials of Veterinary Ophthalmology, and distills all of this information down to the Essentials.

      The information base is targeted to the veterinary medical student and general practitioner. This text is primarily a clinical reference, presented similarly to the widely used ophthalmology curricula of most colleges of veterinary medicine worldwide. Hence, we start with those subjects encountered in the veterinary students' freshmen year on vision sciences (embryology, anatomy, and physiology), then the sophomore year with pharmacology and therapeutics, then clinical ophthalmology divided by species (offered in the second and/or third years), and then for the clinical ophthalmology clerkships and the subsequent “real world.” The entire text and its associated photographs are available as text (hard copy) and on the internet.

      This fourth edition of the Essentials presents the most frequently encountered eye diseases of domestic animals along with their treatment and prognosis. This book also provides critical information for a busy general, small animal and mixed animal practitioner who needs a single ophthalmology text that covers their needs. When there is more time, and if the reader seeks additional information on an ophthalmic disorder, the comprehensive sixth edition of Veterinary Ophthalmology and other references may be consulted.

Relevant chapters from the sixth edition have been distilled or revised into this “Essentials.” Since the ophthalmic structures are, for the most part, examined under direct observation, and often supplemented with magnification and special illumination, a working knowledge of ocular development and morphology is important. As most ophthalmic diseases can easily be visualized and photographed, most of the illustrations are in color, facilitating transfer of this information to the clinical patient! Often photographs of clinical conditions are more easily remembered rather than the text information! Algorithms have been included when possible to speed the clinical problem‐solving process! The appendices, positioned in the different chapters, include the available DNA tests for eye diseases in animals (continuously updated on their websites) and inherited eye conditions (presented in the different chapters) of the dog, cat, horse, and production animals.

      Ophthalmology has a unique vocabulary (based on Greek rather than Latin since the early development of ophthalmology paralleled the evolution of medicine), and this often presents a challenge to the learner. As a result, a brief glossary is included summarizing those ophthalmic words used most frequently in veterinary ophthalmology, sometimes with adaptations to animals.

      We hope you benefit from and build upon these “Essentials of Veterinary Ophthalmology.”

      Kirk N. Gelatt, VMD and Caryn E. Plummer, DVM, Professors of Veterinary and Comparative Ophthalmology, and Diplomats of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.