| What is an opthamologtst? | | | | prescribe any medications you may need to keep |
| An ophthalmologist diagnoses and treats eye | | | | your eyes healthy and to maintain your vision. |
| diseases, prescribes medications, and performs | | | | Your doctor will take into consideration your full |
| surgery to improve or prevent the worsening of | | | | medical history when examining your eyes. Your |
| vision-related conditions. An ophthalmologist is a | | | | doctor will also be checking for any medical |
| medical doctor and thus will have an "M. D." after | | | | conditions that may affect your eye health include |
| his or her name. | | | | certain types of arthritis, diabetes, and multiple |
| When many people refer to "eye doctors," they | | | | sclerosis. |
| might be thinking about an Optometrist. An | | | | What about LASIK surgery? |
| optometrist has a Doctor of Optometry degree | | | | LASIK surgery is an exciting advance in the field |
| from an optometry school which is usually four | | | | of ophthalmology. Many people are tired of the |
| years of training in examining the eyes and | | | | expense and hassle involved with glasses and |
| treating certain types of visual and eye disorders. | | | | contacts and are choosing to get rid of them |
| However, they do not have any background in | | | | once and for all by opting for LASIK surgery. |
| general medicine, nor do they have any training in | | | | LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ |
| surgical management of eye diseases. | | | | Keratomileusis and is a procedure that |
| As a general rule, if you have anything actually | | | | permanently changes the shape of the cornea, or |
| wrong with your eyes or have a significant eye | | | | the clear covering of the front of the eye, by |
| or general medical problem, it is better to see an | | | | using an excimer laser. Generally, a blade or laser |
| ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist has received | | | | device is used to cut a flap in the cornea. A hinge |
| all the training of an optometrist yet has sought | | | | is left at one end of this flap. The flap is folded |
| additional training and education to become a | | | | back revealing the middlesection of the cornea. |
| medical doctor specializing in eye care. | | | | Pulses from a computer-controlled laser vaporize |
| What should I expect from my ophthalmologist? | | | | a portion of the area and then the flap is replaced. |
| An experienced ophthalmologist will perform a | | | | If need help with your eyes or are considering |
| complete eye exam. A complete eye exam | | | | LASIK surgery, you need the experience and |
| includes dilation to check for signs of eye disease | | | | training of a skilled and compassionate |
| or deterioration, and will perform tests to detect | | | | ophthalmologist. Your ophthalmologist is not only |
| conditions such as glaucoma or diabetic | | | | here to take care of you during your eye surgery |
| retinopathy before any permanent damage | | | | ort procedure, but to monitor you afterwards to |
| occurs. | | | | help you keep your eyes healthy in the years to |
| As a medical doctor, an ophthalmologist can | | | | come. |