Ophthalmologists: Doctors of Eye Care & Treatment
Dr.Spurti KattimaniLast Updated on 28th February 2022Who is an ophthalmologist?
Ophthalmologists are doctors who specialize in eye and vision care. They are professionals trained to perform eye tests, diagnose and treat eye diseases, prescribe medications, perform eye surgery, and write prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses.
What does an ophthalmologist do?
Ophthalmologists are eye doctors who treat all disorders of the eyes: injuries, infections, refractive errors, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma etc.
How often should you go to an ophthalmologist?
It’s time to see an ophthalmologist when you find yourself having the following symptoms:
- Redness in eyes
- Itchiness in eyes
- Watery or pus discharge from eyes
- Blurry or loss of vision
- Dry eyes
- Excessive tearing
- Pain in the eyes and headaches etc
What degrees do you need to be an ophthalmologist?
To be an ophthalmologist, you need an MBBS degree followed by a post-graduate specialization in Ophthalmology (MS Ophthalmology). Once they have the required degree, they can practice at any Primary Health Centers, business organizations, hospitals, nursing homes or open their private practice.
How to find a good ophthalmologist?
To find a good ophthalmologist, speak to a family member or friend who can refer you to a good ophthalmologist. You could also search online for doctors; Google does a great job of providing services closest to you, i.e., they’d connect you with doctors near you. Usually, there are ratings and reviews online for the quality of services provided to help you decide what’s best for you.
How to choose an ophthalmologist?
Choosing the right doctor is one of the most important and personal decisions you would make. Following are seven important tips to help you choose the right Ophthalmologist:
- Research. There are many doctors out there. Decide upon the one you would be comfortable with; someone with a good reputation, communication and soft skills.
- Get the right referrals. Speak with your family members, colleagues, friends to help you connect with the right doctor.
- Check for licencing and credentials of the Ophthalmologist.
- Consider the years of experience of the Ophthalmologist.
- Consider the gender of the eye doctor depending on if you would want to disclose your health condition to them.
- Consider the communication skill of the Ophthalmologist. Choose an eye doctor you would get along with quickly. Developing a rapport helps in communicating efficiently with the doctor. If possible, read patient reviews to help you make the right decisions.
- It’s good to know if you would be covered under the insurance plan that you have.
At MFine, we treat your health as our top priority. Book an online appointment, and our specialists will get in touch with you shortly!
You can consult top ophthalmologists near you all from the comfort of your home — Download the MFine app now or visit our website.
- Ask the doctor about your symptoms, problems, medications, and more during your consultation.
- You may have to submit your medical history and records if any, so the doctor can better understand your condition.
- Post teleconsultation, you could also follow up with your doctor online.
- Additionally, you can also buy medicines online and get lab tests done using the MFine app, all from the comfort of your home.
Frequently Asked Questions on Ophthalmology
What questions should I ask my Ophthalmologist?
To ask good questions, you need to have at least some basic knowledge of eyes and Ophthalmology. Here is a list of a few questions you could ask your Ophthalmologist to get started:
- Why have I been referred to an ophthalmologist?
- What’s causing my eyes not to function properly?
- What are the tests to be performed to come to a final conclusion?
- How do I take care of my eyes?
- Is there any diet/physical activity I need to avoid/do?
- What are the danger symptoms and signs I should pay attention to?
What should you not do before an eye examination?
- Do not overexert your eyes: reduce your screen time. Digital eye strain can lead to eye fatigue.
- Don’t forget to carry your medical records, glasses, contact lenses etc.
- Avoid diuretics like coffee, tea and alcohol.
- Don’t forget to carry your insurance policy and related documents.
- Don’t forget to carry cash; not everything may be covered under the insurance policy.
What questions do opticians ask?
Opticians may want to know about your medical history, power of your glasses; lens power is measured in diopters.
What are the three types of eye doctors?
The three types of eye specialists are:
- Ophthalmologist: Ophthalmologists are surgeons. They have an MBBS undergraduate degree and a postgraduate degree, Master of Surgery (MS) in Ophthalmology. Subspecialties in Ophthalmology include cornea specialities, retina specialist, glaucoma specialist, neurology specialist, pediatric specialist, plastic surgeon etc.
- They diagnose and treat all medical conditions related to the eyes
- Perform surgeries
- Optometrist: Optometrists are professionals trained in primary eye care. They conduct eye testing and diagnose and correct changes in vision. But they do not perform surgery.
- Conduct eyesight and vision examination
- Prescribe corrective lenses
- Detect abnormalities in eyes
- Provide visual rehabilitation
- Prescribe medication for eye infections
- Optician: Opticians are technicians trained to provide visual aids prescribed by an ophthalmologist or an optometrist such as lenses, frames, contact lenses etc.
- They provide eyeglasses and frames
- They provide contact lenses
- They help in providing all relevant information related to eyeglasses, frames and contact lenses.
What does an ophthalmologist check for?
An ophthalmologist is an eye specialist doctor. They have an MBBS and an MS in Opthalmology. Ophthalmology also has subspecialties in cornea, retina, glaucoma, paediatric and neurology. They diagnose, treat and operate (if necessary) all medical conditions related to vision and eye care.
How does an ophthalmologist check your optic nerve?
Ophthalmologists check the insides and back of your eyes through a test called Ophthalmoscopy (also called fundoscopy), wherein they flash a bright light inside of your eyes to check for any abnormalities.
Do you get glasses the same day as an eye exam?
Which diseases can be detected in an eye exam?
Here are five health conditions that can be detected in an eye examination. They are,
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- High cholesterol levels
- Cancers
- Rheumatoid arthritis