By Mattie Knight


The physiology, anatomy, and disorders, conditions diseases affecting the eye are studied under a branch of medicine called ophthalmology. Practitioners in this field of study are referred to as ophthalmologists. Ophthalmologists are specialists of both surgery and medicine because they can treat diseases as well perform surgical operations on the eyes. When one is in need of well experienced yet affordable ophthalmologist San Antonio should be the first place to visit. There are many specialists in this area worth consulting.

The term ophthalmology originates from the Greek language. When the two Greek words that make up the term are translated into English, they literally mean the science of the eye. The discipline is not confined to human eye alone, but applies to animal eyes in a similar fashion. The reason for this lack of difference is that the differences between human and animal eyes are anatomical, but disease processes remain the same.

Ophthalmologists refer to medical specialists who specialize in eyes. They may hold either a medical degree, MD or an osteopathic degree DO. Their specialty involves the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of all diseases which affect eyes and visual systems. The first step in education starts with completing an undergraduate degree first. The undergraduate degree may be related to medicine or not.

College education is followed by another four years in medical school and a year of internship in pediatrics, internal medicine, surgery, or general medicine. Hospital-based residency lasts three to four years. Ophthalmologists are not similar to optometrists and opticians because they are more specialized and handle more responsibilities. The kind of training they undergo is also very different from that of optometrists and opticians.

Ophthalmologists are meant to treat all types of patients. Ages vary from zero to the oldest man alive. Treating and diagnosing all kinds of eye diseases are their main responsibilities. Treatment may be in form of prescription of medications or performance of surgery. They also prescribe and fit contact lenses and glasses for patients with vision problems.

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.

Like other fields in medicine, ophthalmology also has several sub-specialties. The sub-specialties either handle certain diseases or diseases that affects certain regions of the eye. Some of the main sub-specialties include ocular oncology, oculplastics, neuro-ophthalmology, immunology, medical retina, glaucoma, cataracts, anterior segment surgery, and eveitis.




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