Ophthalmology is a field under medicine and surgery that focuses on the structure, the diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the eyeball and orbit. An ophthalmologist is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases associated with the eyes. Typically, they could be medical doctors or doctors of osteopathy. They are trained to take care of the eyes and carry out activities such as eye examinations, medical and surgical care, evaluation of signs and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affects the eyes. To become an ophthalmologist, one has to obtain a medical degree, then proceed to a residency program in ophthalmology. They are trained to carry out both simple, complex and complicated diseases of the eyes. They are capable of treating all the types of diseases that might affect the eyes.
What Diseases Can Ophthalmologists Treat?
Ophthalmologists are capable of managing and treating all the types of eye diseases and disorders. Below are some of the examples of conditions they treat;
- Cataract: This is a condition in which the lens of the eyes become clouded. Some of the signs and symptoms of cataract are that people affected with the disease find it difficult to read, drive at night, and so on. Other symptoms include difficulty seeing at night, the appearance of halos around lights, development of double vision in one eye, patients might have to change their glasses regularly, they might require a brighter light to read, or see clearly. This disease has a slow onset but worsens over time. The exact cause of cataract isn’t known yet. However, it has been associated with conditions such as old age, and injuries to the lens tissues. Studies have also shown that genetics might play a role in the development of the disease. In addition, a cataract can also develop as a result of the chronic use of steroidal medications, previous eye surgery, and as a complication of diabetes mellitus. Some factors have been identified to contribute to the development of cataract. Some of the risk factors include old age, diseases like diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, excessive consumption of alcohol, smoking, inflammation and so on. Ophthalmologists do recommend surgery when the disease starts impairing the daily activity of the patient. Surgery has been identified as the most effective treatment for this disease.
- Glaucoma: Glaucoma is one of the most common disorders of the eyes. It’s a condition in which the optic nerve is impaired. This is mostly caused by the intraocular pressure. This disease is most common in people above the age of 60, although it can affect anyone regardless of the age. Glaucoma has a gradual onset. A lot of people don’t realize they have the disorder until it reaches the advanced stage. It’s important to diagnose the disease before it gets to the advanced stage. This is because it could lead to an irreversible vision loss. There are two main types of glaucoma. These are open-angle glaucoma and acute angle-closure glaucoma. The signs and symptoms presented by patients depend on the type of glaucoma the patient has. For open-angle glaucoma, patients might present with symptoms such as tunnel vision, and an impairment of the peripheral vision in the two eyes. For acute-angle glaucoma, patients present with symptoms such as redness of the eyes, blurred vision, eye discomfort, headache, halos around bright lights and so on. This condition if not managed well, can lead to blindness, that isn’t reversible. Some of the factors that contribute to the development of this disease include old age, short and long sightedness, prolonged use of steroid medications, family history of glaucoma, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, sickle cell anemia and so on. Ophthalmologists treat this disease by administering eye drops containing prostaglandins, carbonic anhydrase, beta blockers and so on. They might also carry out surgery in severe cases. It’s important to go see an ophthalmologist if you have a family history of glaucoma, or if you notice some of the symptoms.
- Conjunctivitis: This is a condition in which there is an inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the thin transparent membrane that lines the eyelid, and also part of the white part of the eyes. This disease occurs when the blood vessels in the conjunctiva become This is what leads to the red color of the eyes when this disease occurs. Conjunctivitis has different causes. Some of them include infection. This could be by viral or bacterial. In addition, conjunctivitis could be caused by allergic reactions. Some of the signs and symptoms of this disease include the redness of the eyes, discharge of fluid from the eyes. Patients might also feel some itchiness in the affected eyes. Some of the factors that contribute to the development of this disease include infection, use of contact lenses, allergy and so on. It’s important to go see an ophthalmologist when you notice any of the above signs and symptoms. They diagnose the disease based on the signs and symptoms of the patient. Ophthalmologists treat this disease by administering eye drops. The eye drops could contain antibiotics or steroids.
- Nystagmus: This is a condition in which there are involuntary movements of the eyes. This could be congenital, and can also be acquired. This disease could also occur as a result of a neurological disorder. It could also be triggered by some factors such as alcohol, stimulants, some drugs and so on. Ophthalmologists treat this disease by administering medications. Examples of medications used for the treatment of this disease include baclofen and gabapentin. Surgery could also be done in severe cases.
- Retinoblastoma: This is a cancerous disease that affects the eyes. It mainly affects the retina. The retina is the dark, sensitive lining in the eyes. This disease mostly occurs in children and young adults. According to studies, retinoblastoma is the most common form of cancer that affects the eyes in children. Some of the signs and symptoms of this disease include redness of the eyes, swelling of the eyes and so on. This disease mainly occurs as a result of the mutation of some genes in the eyes. This disease can also spread into nearby tissues of the eyes. Ophthalmologists treat this disease by performing procedures such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, laser therapy and so on.
You should consult an ophthalmologist near you if you notice any discomfort in your eyes.
References
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Li, Y., Li, D., Ying, X., Khaw, P. and Raisman, G. (2015). An energy theory of glaucoma. Glia, 63(9), pp.1537-1552.
