Book excerpt: Retinal Detachment: Principles and Practice provides a historical review of current information on the diagnosis and treatment of retinal detachment. It is intended as both an introduction for graduate students in ophthalmology and a concise review or reference for practicing ophthalmologists. The volume defines the types of retinal detachments, their classifications and causes, and covers preoperative examination, preoperative management, prophylactic procedures, surgery, complications of surgery, and results of reattachment surgery. It also includes a historical introduction, suggested readings at the end of each chapter, and the classic article 'The Technique of Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscopy,' by Morten L. Rosenthal.