| roduction | | | | experience of red eyes, acute visual loss, chronic |
| Being a specialized branch of medicine, | | | | visual loss, Amblyopia and Strabismus, Neuro- |
| ophthalmology entails the years preceding medical | | | | Ophthalmology, eye and Systemic Disease, Ocular |
| school wherein graduated physicians | | | | and Orbital Injuries, Drugs and their effect on the |
| (Ophthalmologists) undertake post-graduate | | | | eyes. Other areas they cover include the |
| training in diseases of the eye. | | | | relationship between the vision and the publics, |
| Ophthalmologists deal with the surgery and | | | | intraocular pressure and the fields of vision, |
| diseases of the major visual pathways, including | | | | anterior segment and other slit lamp skills, |
| the eyes and eyelids, areas surrounding the eye | | | | posterior segment and related ophthalmoscopy |
| and the hair. | | | | skills, Extraocular movements and the screening |
| History | | | | of children, trauma and all ocular emergencies. As |
| Ophthalmologists and specialized eye surgeons are | | | | students, they are provided first hand experience |
| not a recent phenomenon. Their presence and skill | | | | with patients with real eye problems. |
| has been recorded as far back as the 5th | | | | What does an Ophthalmologist Treat |
| Century BC, when Sushruta, in his Sushruta | | | | Ophthalmologists treat a variety of eye diseases, |
| Samhita, detailed various ophthalmological | | | | including cataract, glaucoma, Macular Disgeneration, |
| techniques and surgical instruments, as well as | | | | Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinal Detachment, |
| numerous eye diseases. He has been mentioned | | | | Refractive Error, Uveitis, Red eye, Conjunctivitis, |
| as the first ever cataract surgeon. Hunain ibn | | | | Blepharitis, Strabismus, Optic Neurtis, Trachoma, |
| Ishaq, a famous Arab scientist, wrote one of the | | | | and Corneal Ulcers. The surgeries they perform |
| first ever books detailing the anatomy of the eye. | | | | include cataract surgery, Trabeculectomy, |
| Earlier manuscripts have been known to exist, | | | | Vitrectomy, Strabismus Surgery, Cornea |
| most of which have not survived. | | | | Transplant and LASIK. |
| Defining an Ophthalmologist | | | | How to Find a Good Ophthalmologist |
| An Ophthalmologist or a DO (Doctor or | | | | Unfortunately, no rating system exists to rank |
| Osteopathy) is a physician who specializes in the | | | | medical doctors. While they may be certified |
| care of the eyes. He or she is trained in all levels | | | | differently and possess a wide array of |
| of eye care, including the treatment of eye | | | | qualifications and educational background, the |
| disease, preventive medicine for the eyes, | | | | bottom line is that a good ophthalmologist is one |
| treatment of eye injuries and other surgical and | | | | who would make a patient feel comfortable and |
| medical procedures that are required to address | | | | at ease, and help address his or her issues |
| eye ailments. | | | | completely. If you are in search for a reliable |
| It is inaccurate to confuse Optometrists with | | | | ophthalmologist, your best bet would be to |
| Ophthalmologists. An Optometrists responsibilities | | | | conduct some research in the matter before |
| are limited to diagnosing and treating vision | | | | settling on one. You can inquire from family and |
| problems and prescribing contact lenses, | | | | friends who they are most comfortable with. |
| eyeglasses and other medicine that will help in | | | | Typically, the ophthalmologist you select should |
| treating eye disorders. Their function does not | | | | have the pre-requisite qualification, including four |
| extend to performing surgery but they are often | | | | years of medical school, one year of internship at |
| involved in providing patients with care before and | | | | a hospital in general medicine, three years of |
| after an eye operation. Often Optometrists and | | | | residency time in ophthalmology, and another 1-2 |
| Ophthalmologists work in unison, managing | | | | years of training which focuses on a particular |
| patients simultaneously. | | | | area of eye care. |
| What Makes an Ophthalmologist | | | | In addition to these, the ophthalmologist you |
| Ophthalmologists, during their extensive training | | | | decide on must be board certified. A board |
| that begins at college and continues for their | | | | certified doctor is one who has taken and cleared |
| entire careers, have a broad level knowledge of | | | | intensive examinations covering all possible |
| clinical skills, didactic lectures, and surgical lectures. | | | | aspects of eye diseases and care. |
| They are made acquainted with, and gain | | | | |