Ophthalmologist
An ophthalmologist combines the diagnostic skills of a clinician, the therapeutic skills of a physician, technical skills of a micro surgeon and psychiatric skills in understanding the patient's psychology in one. Since the eye is structured in such a way that its components are transparent, the opthalmologist is able to observe directly and read the abnormalities in a manner which is not possible for any other parts of the human body.
Professional qualifications for an ophthalmologist
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who have completed medical school and four years training schedule in opthalmology after medical school. An opthalmologist can be a medical doctor with an M.D. degree in opthalmology or doctors of osteopathy D.O. In the US, four years of training after medical school is a must. The first year is an internship and then three years of training in opthalmology in a residency program approved by the Accrediation Council of Graduate Medical Education. An ophthalmologist may develop expertise in a sub-specialty such as:
- Corneal disease
- Retina and vitreous disease
- Glaucoma
- Pediatric eye problems
- Plastic surgery
Services rendered by an opthalmologist
By convention, an opthalmologist specializes in the medical and surgical care of the eyes. The opthalmologist aids in prevention of eye diseases and injury to the visual system. The full spectrum of care rendered by an opthalmologist includes:
- Routine eye examinations
- diagnosis
- Medical treatement of eye disorders and diseases
- Pprescription for eye glasses
- Surgery
- Management of eye problems caused by systemic illnesses
Eye surgeon
An opthalmologist often performs surgery to prevent or improve vision related conditions. A variety of lasers are used nowadays to perform out-patient procedures which previously required admission to hospital. Also tremendous improvements in microsurgical instrumentations have led to development of operations not considered possible a decade ago. An increasing number of such surgeries are being performed by local anesthesia. The surgical work of a general opthalmologist includes:
- Cataract extration
- Squint surgery
- Glaucoma surgery
- Retinal, oculoplastic and nasolacrimal surgery
Some common emergency of the eye that require immediate intervention by an opthalmologist are:
- simple foreign body on the eye
- chemical burns
- angle closure
- glaucoma
- retinal detachment
Medical ophthalmologist
A medical opthalmologist generally does not perform surgery. The sphere of interest embraces:
- Diabetes and Endocrinology including laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy
- Vascular disease of the eye
- Uveitis
- AIDS
- Ramifications of dermatological and rheumatological disorders
- Pediatric opthalmology
- Neuropthalmology
- Genetics
Myopia
Myopia or nearsightedness is a condition where a person has trouble seeing things that are far away. The eye finds it difficult to focus the light directly on the retina since the physical length of the eye is greater than the optical length. Such a person suffering myopia finds distant objects blurred and might need to squint to see them clearer. Symptoms of myopia are eyestrain and sometimes headache. This is quickly noticed in school going children who have difficultly reading the blackboard. In fact myopia worsens during the growth years and then stabilizes after the teens. Regular eye tests with refraction test help in diagnosing the degree of refraction lens needed. Spectacles or contact lens are prescribed to correct the focus of the light image on the retina thereby producing a clear image. LASIK is also performed to correct myopia. Orthokeratology involves usage of special rigid contact lenses to flatten the cornea to reduce myopia.
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