Specialist Eye Doctors and their Functions

Specialist Eye Doctors and their Functions

They say “the eyes are the windows of one’s soul.” Our eyes are the most active sensory organs we have. It is only understandable then that we must care for them to prevent infections from affecting our sight. Part of such care is knowing who to consult, should our eyes be affected by certain conditions that only a certain specialist or eye doctor can help us with. Before that time comes, you must know the different eye specialists and their functions.

Those seeking specialized, comprehensive care for their eyes in terms of surgical and medical procedures should seek assistance from an Ophthalmologist. These specialists can perform all tests on the eye due to them being qualified surgeons and medical doctors. They also underwent training to have specializations such as in laser vision correction, neuro-ophthalmology, among others. It is due to their specializations that ophthalmologists are more preferred when a patient has certain conditions that must be examined further and would require surgery.

For more common or general eye problems such as infections, an optometrist is sufficient to give proper treatment. Similar to an ophthalmologist, they also provide examinations and tests for eye disorders but do not specialize in certain diseases. They can be called for to examine refractive errors and prescribe corrective eyewear. They can diagnose eye diseases and perform procedures but of the minimally-invasive kind including foreign body removals.

Similar to an ophthalmologist, an optometrist must attain a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree which can be achieved after four years of studying in an optometry school and taking a one-year residency.

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Disorders related to eye movement and coordination can be consulted with Orthoptists. They can provide treatment of disorders associated with sight accommodation, visual axis misalignment, amblyopia, among others. They can work closely with ophthalmologists in surgical procedures.

Individuals who require ocular prosthesis or artificial eyes need the assistance of an Ocularist to perform the surgery. These specialists fabricate and fit the prosthesis for people who have lost one or two eyes due to diseases. The prosthetic provides enhanced cosmetics for the user. The ocularist fabricates the eye through the impression of the patient’s socket and molding the plastic shell which is fitted onto the user’s socket. The ocularist also provides correct procedures on how to care for the prosthesis.

When an ophthalmologist prescribes an ophthalmic lens to correct eye conditions, the patient must also seek assistance from an optician. They are capable of fabricating lenses such as contacts. They can also help with fitting the lens and giving tips on how to use them.

Vision therapy is also one of the most needed procedures for correcting eye conditions, and vision therapists perform it. They usually assist low vision patients whose conditions cannot be improved through corrective eyewear. Children are their usual patients. Their procedures make use of tools such as prisms, filtered lenses, patches, and others.

There are many ways to care for one’s eyesight and knowing the specialists of eye care is one of them. Seeking help from these specialists could mean getting one’s vision back from even the most terrible of eye conditions.

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