Section 2 of the Academy's Basic and Clinical Science Course™ (BCSC^®) provides the essential scientific grounding for current ophthalmic practice with discussions about ocular anatomy, embryology, biochemistry and metabolism in the eye, and ocular pharmacology.

BCSC Section 2 features clinical content on biosimilar drugs, ocular penetration of systemically administered antimicrobial agents, and pediatric dosing. This volume contains Clinical Pearl boxes and content boxes that emphasize essential concepts.

This section includes expanded clinical content on ophthalmic drug delivery, ophthalmic preservatives, and growth factors, a section dedicated to VEGF and VEGF inhibitors, and an expanded table on immunomodulatory therapy. Section 2 includes an updated genetics section with expanded knowledge on CRISPR and pedigree analysis and an expanded chapter on digital ophthalmology with a focus on artificial intelligence.

Deepen your understanding with eight clinical videos, five animations (sample), and five interactive activities. Both print and eBook users have access to videos and interactive activities.

Upon completion of Section 2, readers should be able to:

• Describe the anastomoses in the orbit between the external and internal carotid arteries
• Describe the elements of the visual cycle and phototransduction cascade and their relation to vision and inherited retinal diseases
• Draw a pedigree diagram and identify the main patterns of inheritance

Section chair: Vikram S. Brar, MD
Last Major Revision: 2023-2024

Print: 584 pages

eBook: Read Academy eBooks online from nearly any computer, or download eBooks to your mobile device with the free Academy eBooks app. For eBook features, requirements, and licensing, visit: aao.org/ebooks. Please allow up to 90 minutes for receiving an access key (via email) that will allow you to retrieve your eBook after purchase.

Print ISBN: 978-1-68104-784-3
eBook ISBN: 978-1-68104-810-9
Print & eBook ISBN: 978-1-68104-797-3

About the BCSC
The Academy’s Basic and Clinical Science Course™ is ophthalmology’s definitive source of clinical information. Practicing ophthalmologists and residents worldwide use the BCSC^® to ensure the highest-quality patient care.

Each of the 13 volumes includes up-to-date clinical knowledge, concise text, tables, photos and illustrations, multimedia, self-assessment questions with answers, and opportunities for earning AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

Beginning with the 2013–2014 edition, the Academy and the European Board of Ophthalmology (EBO) have partnered to make the BCSC the standard text for all European ophthalmology training programs. The EBO now recommends the BCSC as the primary educational resource for European trainees and ophthalmologists studying for the annual EBO Diploma Exam.

CME Information
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology designates this enduring material for a maximum of 15 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.