Regular eye exams are an important part of every person's health care. What people may not realize is that they may need to visit an ophthalmologist instead of a traditional eye doctor. These eye doctors may be specialists in a wide variety of diseases and disorders of the eyes.
A doctor of ophthalmology may specialize in helping people who have diseases or disorders of the eye. Some of them narrow their profession even further by focusing only on one disorder, only on pediatric patients, and so on.
Doctors of ophthalmology provide treatment for a range of conditions.
Doctors in this special field also provide services for a range of other eye disorders, such as inflammation of the eye, disorders that affect the cornea, diabetes-related eye problems, minor or major injuries, and infectious diseases. Some people also treat rare diseases such as hemolacria or bloody tears.
Some doctors of ophthalmology also perform surgeries. Eye surgery occurs in several forms. For some patients, surgery on the cornea is necessary to remove cataracts or for refractive eye surgery. Sometimes, patients even have corneal transplants. Other ophthalmology doctors remove tumors around the eyes, repair tiny fractures in the bones around the eyes, or perform other types of plastic surgery in the areas surrounding the eyes.
If you are someone who needs to see an ophthalmologist for other types of eye care, you may wish to see one for your basic eye exams as well. Just like optometrists do, these doctors provide basic eye exams and can prescribe glasses or contact lenses for their patients.
Doctors who specialize in ophthalmology spend up to 15 years receiving the education and training they need to become licensed. First, a hopeful doctor must obtain a bachelor's degree and maintain a GPA that medical schools find acceptable. After receiving an undergraduate degree, the person must take and pass the medical college admission test (MCAT) and then spend about four years in medical school.
After graduating from medical school, the hopeful doctor of ophthalmology must pass two different medical licensing exams, complete an internship of at least one year, and finally, complete a residency of at least three years. Only after all of this is done successfully can a person practice ophthalmology medicine on his or her own.
Depending on your insurance provider, you may need a referral to see an ophthalmologist. If you think you would benefit from an appointment with one, your family doctor or current eye doctor may be able to help.
Do you want to take better care of yourself when it comes to your eyesight? Ask your current eye doctor whether you should see a specialist in ophthalmology.
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