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Thursday, November 12, 2015

By Mattie Knight


The study of anatomy, physiology, and all conditions that affect the eyes is done under the branch of medicine known as ophthalmology. Practitioners are called ophthalmologists. Since ophthalmologists treat eyes using both surgical and medical methods, they qualify as specialists of both medicine as well as surgery. When one needs well experienced yet cheap to afford ophthalmologist San Antonio offers the best options. San Antonio is home to some of the most well-known ophthalmologists in the United States.

The origin of the term ophthalmology is in the Greek language. When translated to English, the two terms that make the term literally mean the science of the eye. This discipline encompasses both human and animal eyes. The lack of distinction between human and animal eyes is because the differences are anatomical, while disease processes in them remain similar.

Ophthalmologists are doctors that are medically trained with specialty in eyes. They may be medical or osteopathic doctors (MD or DO). They specialize in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases that affect visual systems and eyes. Education involves completing four years of undergraduate degree studies in a university or college. The degree may or may not be related to the field of medicine let alone ophthalmology.

After college education, one goes into medical school for another four years. After graduation from the medical school, a year is spent on internship in various departments including pediatrics, surgery, general medicine, or internal medicine. Finally comes hospital-based residency that takes between three and four years. Ophthalmologists are more trained in eye and vision problems than optometrists and opticians. They can handle more problems and are trained differently.

The work of ophthalmologists involves dealing with people of all ages ranging from infants to the elderly people. Responsibilities include diagnosing and treating all kinds of diseases and conditions that affect the eye. They perform all kinds of surgery on the eye without restrictions. They also correct vision problems by prescribing and fitting eye glasses and lenses for their patients.

All legal documents pertaining to the certification of an individual as partially or fully blind are also handled by these professionals. When dealing with patients, they sympathize and communicate to relatives about the situation. In the course of doing their job, they mingle and collaborate with both medicine and non-medicine specialists. Because eye surgeries normally occur during daytime, these professionals never stay in workplaces operating on patients, except to handle work-related matters like filing documents.

Ophthalmologists also research to find what causes certain diseases and how they can be cured. Some specialists in this field also train in both ophthalmology and general medicine. Their numbers is small, and they deal more with general medical problems and eye problems to a lesser extent. In general, ophthalmologists work in laser eye surgery clinics, outpatient clinics, hospital eye casualty departments, outpatient clinics, and operating theatres among other related places.

Similar to other fields of medicine, many sub-specialties also fall under ophthalmology. These sub-specialties correspond to diseases they handle or diseases that affect specific eye regions. Ocular oncology, oculplastics, neuro-ophthalmology, immunology, medical retina, glaucoma, eveitis, anterior segment surgery, and cataracts are among the main sub-fields available.




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