Ophthalmology

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) who specializes in the medical and surgical care of the eyes. They are trained to diagnose and treat a wide range of eye conditions, perform eye surgery, and prescribe corrective lenses.

Common eye conditions treated by ophthalmologists include refractive errors (such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism), cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinal detachment, corneal diseases, eye infections, and strabismus (misalignment of the eyes).

You should consider seeing an ophthalmologist if you experience any symptoms related to your eyes or vision, such as blurred vision, double vision, eye pain or discomfort, redness, irritation, itching, excessive tearing, flashes of light, floaters (spots or specks in your vision), or if you have a family history of eye disease or other risk factors.

Eye conditions are diagnosed through a combination of medical history, visual acuity testing (such as reading an eye chart), refraction testing (to determine the need for glasses or contact lenses), slit-lamp examination (using a microscope to examine the structures of the eye), tonometry (to measure intraocular pressure), dilated eye examination (to examine the retina and optic nerve), and imaging tests (such as optical coherence tomography or fundus photography).

Treatment for common eye conditions depends on the specific condition but may include prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses, medications (such as eye drops, ointments, or oral medications), laser therapy, intraocular injections, or surgical interventions (such as cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, or retinal surgery).

While some eye conditions may have genetic or other predisposing factors, many can be prevented or their progression slowed through lifestyle modifications such as wearing UV-protective sunglasses, avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, protecting your eyes from injury, and getting regular eye exams to detect and treat conditions early.

The frequency of eye exams depends on your age, risk factors, and any existing eye conditions. As a general guideline, adults with no symptoms or risk factors should have a comprehensive eye exam every 1-2 years. However, individuals with certain risk factors (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of eye disease) may need more frequent exams.