The Art of LASIK. JJ Machat, SG Slade, LE Probst, eds. 2nd ed. Pp 544; £155. Thorofare, NJ: Slack Inc, 1998. ISBN 1-55642-386-1. The Art of LASIK is the second edition of the well known Excimer Refractive Surgery: Practice and Principles , by Jeffrey Machat, Stephen Slade, and Louis Probst. It is an outstanding reference, not only for the ophthalmic refractive surgeon but also for anyone managing or co-managing patients who have had or plan to have laser refractive surgery. With the successes of refractive surgery for myopes, hyperopes, and astigmats being on everyone's lips, it is easy to become complacent as the number of successful cases and satisfied patients continues to mount. While the first edition placed great emphasis on procedures and techniques, there have been numerous advances in both instrumentation and in refinements of surgical technique in the intervening years to warrant a second edition. However, as one reads this volume, which has the contributions and clinical expertise of 45 clinicians worldwide, one cannot help but be impressed with its comprehensive scope, but more importantly, with the authors' concerns for avoidance of preventable conditions and their detailed management plans when postoperative complications do occur. The Art of LASIK also provides the reader with innovative chapters on the use of LASIK in patients with previous ocular surgery, as well as topography assisted laser ablation, and management of complex LASIK cases. As one would expect, section one's introductory chapter deals with refractive surgery options and with the historical evolution of today's LASIK procedures from keratomileusis, PRK, keratophakia, epikeratoplasty, and automated lamellar keratoplasty, as well as newer peripheral …