Interview with Mark J Mannis, MD, FACS

Why did you feel that it was important to publish a book on Keratoconus: Diagnosis and Management, 1st Edition? What does your publication add to the field?  

Keratoconus is one of the most common disorders encountered by ophthalmologists specializing in corneal disease and by optometrists who fit contact lenses.  The disorder commonly affects young individuals in their prime years of education and/or work, so it has great impact on the patient’s life at a critical time in development. 

What is the most exciting aspect of Keratoconus: Diagnosis and Management, 1st Edition? What chapter or topic covered in the new edition are you most excited about?  

The most exciting aspect of managing this disease is the new and expanding array of both optical and surgical treatments available, ranging from custom-designed scleral contact lenses to collagen crosslinking and to intracorneal ring segments and deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty, among others. 

Who will find the greatest value from this book and why?  

This book will provide both corneal specialists, fellows in training, and optometrists with the most thorough overview of the treatment of keratoconus in the library of medicine.  It provides not only the standard management protocols but an exhaustive corpus of information on diagnosis and treatment found in no other contemporary publication. 

What new ideas, practices, or procedures do you hope your readers take away from your text?  

This book will provide the reader with the latest diagnostic and management options, including advanced imaging and the newest forms of optical correction, surgical techniques, and their combinations. 

What problem do you hope the future generation of ophthalmologists will be able to solve?  

My hope is that, ultimately, gene therapy will find ways to halt the progression of keratoconus. 

Is there anything else about the book you’d like to say?  

This book harnesses the expertise of specialists from around the world, calling together analyses and recommendations from the most talented and informed specialists with an interest in keratoconus. The book is, at the same time, exhaustive and focused.  It will be the single most useful resource for the practitioner who takes care of patients with keratoconus. 

About the Editor

Mark J Mannis, MD, FACS, is a Professor, and Chair, Dept of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California Davis, specializing in diseases and surgery of the cornea and external eye.

Purchase your copy of Keratoconus: Diagnosis and Management, 1st Edition here!