Reading The BCSC
This series of articles is entitled Reading The BCSC. The Basic and Clinical Science Course, developed and published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, is a 13-volume text that covers the major topics of ophthalmology and was written and edited by hundreds of ophthalmologists for the purpose of providing accurate, up-to-date, and detailed information about the eye. If one were to read through and understand the entirety of this text, he/she would likely do well clinically as well as have a strong foundation of knowledge for passing the ophthalmology board exams.
As great as the BCSC series is, though, trying to navigate through the information without guidance can be very daunting. While we are all very good at self-study and figuring things out, hopefully these articles can provide useful hints and tips in learning the material and retaining what’s important to know.
Disclaimer: For obvious reasons, I cannot divulge any specific information that is copyrighted in the BCSC reading. Additionally, I cannot and will not specify information that may be on a test, whether that’s the OKAP, ABO written board exam, or ABO oral board exam, or any other test. Sorry! However, I will do my best to provide information and tips that will be helpful and important for clinical practice.
The chapter order and guide is based on the 2017-2018 edition of the Basic and Clinical Science Course. I will do my best to update this as I go, but since there is a major revision of each book every 3-4 years, these chapter titles and the content may be updated and shuffled throughout the years!
Section 1: Update on General Medicine
Chapter 1: Using Statistics in Clinical Practice
Chapter 2: Endocrine Disorders
Chapter 3: Hypertension
Chapter 4: Hypercholesterolemia and Cardiovascular Risk
Chapter 5: Acquired Heart Disease
Chapter 6: Cerebrovascular Disease
Chapter 7: Pulmonary Diseases
Chapter 8: Hematologic Diseases
Chapter 9: Rheumatic Disorders
Chapter 10: Geriatrics
Chapter 11: Behavioral and Neurologic Disorders
Chapter 12: Preventive Medicine
Chapter 13: Cancer
Chapter 14: Infectious Diseases
Chapter 15: Perioperative Management in Ocular Surgery
Chapter 16: Medical Emergencies and Ocular Adverse Effects of Systemic Medications
Section 2: Fundamentals and Principles of Ophthalmology
Part I: Anatomy
Chapter 1: Orbit and Ocular Adnexa
Chapter 2: The Eye
Chapter 3: Cranial Nerves: Central and Peripheral Connections
Part II: Embryology
Chapter 4: Ocular Development
Part III: Genetics
Introduction
Chapter 5: Molecular Genetics
Chapter 6: Clinical Genetics
Part IV: Biochemistry and Metabolism
Introduction
Chapter 7: Tear Film
Chapter 8: Cornea
Chapter 9: Aqueous Humor, Iris, and Ciliary Body
Chapter 10: Lens
Chapter 11: Vitreous
Chapter 12: Retina
Chapter 13: Retinal Pigment Epithelium
Chapter 14: Free Radicals and Antioxidants
Part V: Ocular Pharmacology
Chapter 15: Pharmacologic Principles
Chapter 16: Ocular Pharmacotherapeutics
Section 3: Clinical Optics
Chapter 1: Geometric optics
Chapter 2: Optics of the Human Eye
Chapter 3: Clinical Refraction
Chapter 4: Contact Lenses
Chapter 5: Intraocular Lenses
Chapter 6: Optical Considerations in Keratorefractive Surgery
Chapter 7: Optical Instruments and Low Vision Aids
Chapter 8: Physical Optics
Section 4: Ophthalmic Pathology and Intraocular Tumors
Part I: Ophthalmic Pathology
Chapter 1: Introduction to Part I
Chapter 2: Wound Repair
Chapter 3: Specimen Handling
Chapter 4: Special Procedures
Chapter 5: Conjunctiva
Chapter 6: Cornea
Chapter 7: Anterior Chamber and Trabecular Meshwork
Chapter 8: Sclera
Chapter 9: Lens
Chapter 10: Vitreous
Chapter 11: Retina and Retinal Pigment Epithelium
Chapter 12: Uveal Tract
Chapter 13: Eyelids
Chapter 14: Orbit
Chapter 15: Optic Nerve
Part II: Intraocular Tumors: Clinical Aspects
Chapter 16: Introduction to Part II
Chapter 17: Melanocytic Tumors
Chapter 18: Angiomatous Tumors
Chapter 19: Retinoblastoma
Chapter 20: Ocular Involvement in Systemic Malignancies
Section 5: Neuro-Ophthalmology
Chapter 1: Neuro-Ophthalmic Anatomy
Chapter 2: Neuroimaging in Neuro-Ophthalmology
Chapter 3: The Patient With Decreased Vision: Evaluation
Chapter 4: The Patient With Decreased Vision: Classification and Management
Chapter 5: The Patient With Transient Visual Loss
Chapter 6: The Patient With Illusions, Hallucinations, and Disorders of Higher Cortical Function
Chapter 7: The Patient With Abnormal Ocular Motility or Diplopia
Chapter 8: The Patient With Supranuclear Disorders of Ocular Motility
Chapter 9: The Patient With Nystagmus or Spontaneous Eye Movement Disorders
Chapter 10: The Patient With Pupillary Abnormalities
Chapter 11: The Patient With Eyelid or Facial Abnormalities
Chapter 12: The Patient With Head, Ocular, or Facial Pain
Chapter 13: The Patient With Nonorganic Ophthalmic Disorders
Chapter 14: Selected Systemic Conditions With Neuro-Ophthalmic Signs
Section 6: Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
Part I: Strabismus
Chapter 1: The Pediatric Eye Examination
Chapter 2: Strabismus Terminology
Chapter 3: Anatomy of the Extraocular Muscles
Chapter 4: Amblyopia
Chapter 5: Motor Physiology
Chapter 6: Sensory Physiology and Pathology
Chapter 7: Diagnostic Evaluation of Strabismus and Torticollis
Chapter 8: Esodeviations
Chapter 9: Exodeviations
Chapter 10: Pattern Strabismus
Chapter 11: Vertical Deviations
Chapter 12: Special Forms of Strabismus
Chapter 13: Childhood Nystagmus
Chapter 14: Surgery of the Extraocular Muscles
Part II: Pediatric Ophthalmology
Chapter 15: Growth and Development of the Eye
Chapter 16: Decreased Vision in Infants and Children
Chapter 17: Eyelid Disorders
Chapter 18: Orbital Disorders
Chapter 19: Lacrimal Drainage Abnormalities
Chapter 20: Diseases of the Cornea, Anterior Segment, and Iris
Chapter 21: External Diseases of the Eye
Chapter 22: Pediatric Glaucomas
Chapter 23: Childhood Cataracts and Other Pediatric Lens Disorders
Chapter 24: Uveitis in the Pediatric Age Group
Chapter 25: Disorders of the Retina and Vitreous
Chapter 26: Optic Disc Abnormalities
Chapter 27: Ocular Trauma in Childhood
Chapter 28: Ocular Manifestations of Systemic Disease
Section 7: Eyelids, Orbit, and Lacrimal System
Part I: Orbit
Chapter 1: Orbital Anatomy
Chapter 2: Evaluation of Orbital Disorders
Chapter 3: Congenital Orbital Anomalies
Chapter 4: Orbital Inflammatory and Infectious Disorders
Chapter 5: Orbital Neoplasms and Malformations
Chapter 6: Orbital Trauma
Chapter 7: Orbital Surgery
Chapter 8: The Anophthalmic Socket
Part II: Periocular Soft Tissues
Chapter 9: Facial and Eyelid Anatomy
Chapter 10: Classification and Management of Eyelid Disorders
Chapter 11: Periocular Malpositions and Involutional Changes
Part III: Lacrimal System
Chapter 12: Anatomy, Development, and Physiology of the Lacrimal Secretory and Drainage Systems
Chapter 13: Abnormalities of the Lacrimal Secretory and Drainage Systems
Section 8: External Disease and Cornea
Chapter 1: Structure and Function of the External Eye and Cornea
Chapter 2: Examination Techniques for the External Eye and Cornea
Chapter 3: Clinical Approach to Ocular Surface Disease
Chapter 4: Structural and Exogenous Conditions Associated With Ocular Surface Disorders
Chapter 5: Congenital Anomalies of the Cornea and Sclera
Chapter 6: Clinical Approach to Depositions and Degenerations of the Conjunctiva, Cornea, and Sclera
Chapter 7: Corneal Dystrophies and Ectasias
Chapter 8: Systemic Disorders With Corneal and Other Anterior Segment Manifestations
Chapter 9: Infectious Diseases of the External Eye: Basic Concepts and Viral Infections
Chapter 10: Infectious Diseases of the External Eye: Microbial and Parasitic Infections
Chapter 11: Diagnosis and Management of Immune-Related Disorders of the External Eye
Chapter 12: Clinical Approach to Neoplastic Disorders of the Conjunctiva and Cornea
Chapter 13: Therapeutic Interventions for Ocular Surface Disorders
Chapter 14: Clinical Aspects of Toxic and Traumatic Injuries of the Anterior Segment
Chapter 15: Clinical Approach to Corneal Transplantation
Section 9: Intraocular Inflammation and Uveitis
Part I: Ocular Immunology
Introduction
Chapter 1: Basic Concepts in Immunology: Effector Cells and the Innate Immune Response
Chapter 2: Immunization and Adaptive Immunity: The Immune Response Arc and Immune Effectors
Chapter 3: Ocular Immune Responses
Chapter 4: Special Topics in Ocular Immunology
Part II: Intraocular Inflammation and Uveitis
Chapter 5: Clinical Approach to Uveitis
Chapter 6: Noninfectious Ocular Inflammatory Diseases
Chapter 7: Infectious Ocular Inflammatory Disease
Chapter 8: Endophthalmitis
Chapter 9: Masquerade Syndromes
Chapter 10: Complications of Uveitis
Chapter 11: Ocular Involvement in AIDS
Section 10: Glaucoma
Chapter 1: Introduction to Glaucoma: Terminology, Epidemiology, and Heredity
Chapter 2: Intraocular Pressure and Aqueous Humor Dynamics
Chapter 3: Clinical Evaluation
Chapter 4: Open-Angle Glaucoma
Chapter 5: Angle-Closure Glaucoma
Chapter 6: Glaucoma in Children and Adolescents
Chapter 7: Medical Management of Glaucoma
Chapter 8: Surgical Therapy for Glaucoma
Section 11: Lens and Cataract
Chapter 1: Epidemiology of Cataract
Chapter 2: Anatomy
Chapter 3: Biochemistry and Physiology
Chapter 4: Embryology and Developmental Defects
Chapter 5: Pathology
Chapter 6: Evaluation and Management of Cataracts in Adults
Chapter 7: Surgery for Cataract
Chapter 8: Complications of Cataract Surgery
Chapter 9: Preparing for Cataract Surgery in Special Situations
Section 12: Retina and Vitreous
Part I: Fundamentals and Diagnostic Approaches
Chapter 1: Basic Anatomy
Chapter 2: Diagnostic Approach to Retinal Disease
Chapter 3: Retinal Physiology and Psychophysics
Disorders of the Retina and Vitreous
Chapter 4: Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Other Causes of Choroidal Neovascularization
Chapter 5: Retinal Vascular Disease: Diabetic Retinopathy
Chapter 6: Retinal Vascular Diseases Associated With Cardiovascular Disease
Chapter 7: Other Retinal Vascular Diseases
Chapter 8: Retinopathy of Prematurity
Chapter 9: Choroidal Disease
Chapter 10: Focal and Diffuse Choroidal and Retinal Inflammation
Chapter 11: Congenital and Stationary Retinal Disease
Chapter 12: Hereditary Retinal and Choroidal Dystrophies
Chapter 13: Retinal Degenerations Associated With Systemic Disease
Chapter 14: Systemic Drug-Induced Retinal Toxicity
Chapter 15: Retinal Detachment and Predisposing Lesions
Chapter 16: Diseases of the Vitreous and Vitreoretinal Interface
Chapter 17: Posterior Segment Manifestations of Trauma
Selected Therapeutic Topics
Chapter 18: Laser Therapy for Posterior Segment Diseases
Chapter 19: Vitreoretinal Surgery and Intravitreal Injections
Section 13: Refractive Surgery
Chapter 1: The Science of Refractive Surgery
Chapter 2: Patient Evaluation
Chapter 3: Incisional Corneal Surgery
Chapter 4: Onlays and Inlays
Chapter 5: Photoablation: Techniques and Outcomes
Chapter 6: Photoablation: Complications and Adverse Effects
Chapter 7: Collagen Shrinkage and Crosslinking Procedures
Chapter 8: Intraocular Refractive Surgery
Chapter 9: Accommodative and Nonaccommodative Treatment of Presbyopia
Chapter 10: Refractive Surgery in Ocular and Systemic Disease
Chapter 11: Considerations After Refractive Surgery
Chapter 12: Emerging Technologies