Everyone knows that an ophthalmologist is a doctor who specializes in the medical and surgical care of the eyes. These doctors are trained in general medicine as well as other specialties such as pediatrics, neurology, or pathology.
Ophthalmologists have completed at least seven years of medical school and three years of residency training after college graduation. For that, Dr. William Siefert will discuss the medical services that you can expect from an ophthalmologist.
An Ophthalmologist Treats Diseases And Conditions That Affect The Eyes
An ophthalmologist can be a generalist or specialist in one or more areas of eye care, such as pediatrics, glaucoma, or cataract surgery. The term “ophthalmology” comes from the Greek words “ophthe”, which means eye, and “logos”, which means study.
Though the said medical field is still relatively new, it was first introduced by Hippocrates in 400 BC when he suggested that doctors should examine their patients’ eyes before prescribing medical treatment for other ailments.
A Complete Eye Exam
Getting a complete eye exam is an important part of preventive health care. It can detect eye disease early before symptoms appear, and before it causes vision loss.
A comprehensive eye exam includes a review of your medical history (including any medications you take), an assessment of your visual acuity (sharpness), color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception, and a test for glaucoma that measures intraocular pressure in the eyes by placing a small puff into each eye while you’re under anesthesia
Diagnosing And Treating Common Eye Diseases
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness, while cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the developing world. Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of vision loss in people over age 55.
An ophthalmologist can diagnose these conditions with eye exams and other tests such as visual field tests, OCT scans (optical coherence tomography), retinal photography, and fluorescein angiography, which uses a dye that highlights any leaky blood vessels inside your eye’s retina to assess whether they’re causing problems like glaucoma or macular degeneration.
Other than that, Dr. William Siefert states that ophthalmologists also treat some eye diseases through surgery such as removing cataracts by removing part or all of their lenses; reshaping corneas that have been distorted by keratoconus; replacing worn-out retinas with stem cell-derived replacements made from patients’ own cells.
Surgery Commonly Done On The Eyes
Surgery on the eye refers to a specialized field of ophthalmology that is performed by an ophthalmologist, who has completed several years of training and certification in surgical procedures. Eye surgery may be needed to remove a tumor or repair a detached retina, for example.
Specializing In Diseases Of The Retina
The retina refers to the light-sensitive layer of tissue that lines the back of your eye. It contains rods and cones, which are responsible for your vision. The retina also contains blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to cells within it. Only an ophthalmologist can treat various conditions involving your retina.
Management Or Treatment Of Disease Or Injury Affecting Vision
Lastly, an ophthalmologist is a trained medical professional who can treat various injuries to the eye. An ophthalmologist can treat most diseases of the eye, including cataracts (clouding of the lens), glaucoma (increased pressure within the eyeball), and diabetic retinopathy (damage from diabetes).
