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Who is an eye doctor?

An eye doctor is a medical provider specializing in the diagnosis, management, as well as treatment of eye conditions and diseases. They treat patients of all ages, offering simple services like eye checkups and complex ones like eye surgery. Eye doctors can be either ophthalmologists or optometrists. 

The different types of eye doctors

Most of us have a primary care doctor, and it's often simple to find one. But things may get complicated when it comes to your eyesight. It can be challenging to identify which of the three types of eye doctors—optometrists, opticians, and ophthalmologists—is most suited to meet your needs. Here is a list of the several kinds of eye specialists and what they do:

• An ophthalmologist is a doctor specializing in vision care. They can perform eye exams, diagnose and treat diseases, prescribe medications and glasses, and perform eye surgery.
• An optometrist is a type of eye and vision care provider who examines the eyes and prescribes corrective lenses. They are not medical doctors but receive training in diagnosing and treating common eye problems.
• A contact lens practitioner is an optometrist or ophthalmologist with additional training in fitting contact lenses. They are experts in choosing the right lens type for each patient and ensuring the lenses fit properly.
• An optician is a person who dispenses corrective lenses prescribed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Opticians do not examine eyes or prescribe lenses; they simply fill the prescriptions written by an eye doctor.

What kind of education and training do eye doctors receive?

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (M.D.) specializing in vision care. Most ophthalmologists complete four years of an undergraduate program, four years of medical school, one year of internship, and three years of additional residency training. After completing residency, ophthalmologists may choose to subspecialize in a particular area of eye care, such as pediatrics, glaucoma, or retina.

Board certification is voluntary, but many ophthalmologists choose to become certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. To be board certified, they pass a written and oral examination.

Optometrists are responsible for delivering essential primary eye care services. Following their undergraduate education, they undergo four years of intensive training in a professional optometry program to earn a Doctor of Optometry degree. Some optometrists may further enhance their expertise by pursuing additional clinical training or opting for specialty fellowships upon completing their optometry school education.

Opticians are not considered eye doctors or authorized to conduct eye examinations. They typically undergo training programs lasting either one or two years, earning degrees, certificates, or diplomas in the field.

Common eye conditions

Listed below are a few commonly experienced eye disorders: 

• Uveitis: This is a group of eye conditions caused by the inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eyes that contains most blood vessels. People suffering from uveitis can lose their eyes as the condition destroys the eye tissues. Some common symptoms of uveitis are blurred vision, eye pain, eye redness, and light sensitivity. Uveitis symptoms might resolve quickly or last for a long time. It occurs in people with immune system conditions like AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, or ulcerative colitis. One must consult an ophthalmologist if the symptoms persist for an extended period.
• Dry eyes: The condition causes a lack of good-quality tears in your eyes. People with this condition usually feel a burning sensation in their eyes. However, in extreme cases, there can be a loss of vision. Some treatments for the disease include using a humidifier in homes, eye drops that can do the work of tears, and plugging in tear ducts to lessen drainage. Some treatments include lipiflow - a procedure to treat dry eyes using heat and pressure, and testosterone eyelid cream. Supplements like fish oil and omega-3 can also help if the dry eye condition is chronic. The doctor can prescribe medicated drops like cyclosporine or lifitegrast to stimulate tear production.
• Retinal disorders: Retinal disorders cause damage to the retinal cells and block the retinal cells from collecting images and passing them on to the brain. There can be different types of retinal disorders, such as the macula. This is a tiny area of the retina that breaks down as we age, causing age-related macular degeneration. The other type is diabetic retinopathy, where the retinal blood vessels can get damaged.
• Retinal detachment: This is where the retina separates from the layer below. To avoid complications in the future, doctors need to detect and treat retinal disorders early.
• Corneal diseases: The cornea is a component of the eye that helps focus light. It is transparent and has a window that resembles a dome. Infections, trauma, and toxic exposure can harm the cornea. In addition to discomfort, limited vision, and a halo effect, some signs of corneal injury include red, watery eyes and eye inflammation.
• Vision changes: As a person ages, one may find that the vision keeps reducing, and the person might require glasses or contact lenses. There is also a procedure called LASIK to correct the vision. People who experience vision changes even after glasses require a stronger prescription. Severe macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts can also cause vision problems. Symptoms can vary, and one must consult an ophthalmologist to keep up the eye exams. 
• Problems with contact lenses: Contact lenses are ubiquitous and work well for many people. However, contact lenses require extensive care, as one must always wash hands before using them.
• Eyelid problems: Eyelids are essential in protecting the eye, spreading tears over the eyes' surface, and limiting the amount of light that can get in. Some common symptoms of eyelid problems are tearing, pain, itching, and sensitivity to light. You can also experience blinking issues or inflamed outer edges of the lid near the eyelashes. One can manage eyelid problems with proper cleaning, medication, or surgery.
• Excess tearing: Sensitivity to light, wind, or temperature change can cause tearing. One can control the tearing by protecting the eyes by shielding them or wearing sunglasses. Although it is common, the tearing can signal a more serious problem like an infection or blocked tear duct. One should consult an ophthalmologist if it doesn't resolve in a few days.

When should you see an eye doctor near you?

Regular eye examinations are crucial to promptly detect any vision or eye-related issues, ensuring your eye care specialist can provide timely intervention. The recommended frequency of eye exams or visits with an eye doctor typically varies based on age:

• For children, pediatricians should assess their eyes during each well-child visit until they are old enough to begin school. Subsequently, eye checks are advised every one to two years.
• Adults below 40 must have their eyes examined every five to ten years.
• For adults aged 40 to 54, a more frequent schedule of eye exams, approximately every two to four years, is recommended.
• Individuals above the age of 55 must undergo eye examinations more frequently, typically every one to three years.

It's important to note that people who wear glasses, contact lenses, or other visual aids may require more frequent eye checks. Additionally, individuals with diabetes should follow a more rigorous eye examination schedule than the age-based recommendations.

To determine the precise frequency of eye exams, you must consult an eye care specialist who can provide personalized guidance tailored to your eye health.

Ways to relieve digital eye strain at home

Viewing a computer screen or other digital devices for extended periods of time causes the eyes to work harder and makes individuals more susceptible to eye and vision-related symptoms. This is because viewing angles and distances used for working on a screen are often different from those normally used for other reading or writing tasks like reading a printed page. Therefore, the eye focusing and eye movement requirements for digital screens can be more demanding on the visual system. Additionally, uncorrected vision, undercorrected vision problems, and other preexisting vision problems, even minor issues, contribute to discomfort while using digital devices and lead to Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) or digital eye strain. This can affect people of all ages and cause headaches, blurry vision, and eyes aching, tearing, becoming tired, or burning. These may be caused by poor lighting, poor seating posture, glare on a digital screen, or a combination of these issues. 

If you experience constant eye strain, you may want to visit your eye doctor, who can find out the underlying cause of your eye problem. However, there are ways you can relieve digital eye strain by incorporating a few simple tips into your work/study routine. Some common methods of relieving digital eye strain at home include- 

• Use lubricating eye drops or artificial tears- Lubricating eye drops can help the tear film work more effectively by adding back some of the same elements that our natural tears have. These protect the surface of the eyes. Eye drops or artificial tears can be purchased over the counter and be used as often as one needs them or as prescribed by an eye doctor. Generally, doctors recommend that those with severe dry eyes use a lubricating ointment or gel, which is thicker than standard eye drops and stays in your eyes for a longer period of time. 

• Follow the 20-20-20 rule- Another effective way to alleviate digital eye strain is to view an object or image 20 feet away for a minimum of 20 seconds, at least every 20 minutes. 

• Adjust your device's brightness, font size, and contrast. When your phone or computer screen glows brighter than your natural surroundings, your eyes may have to work harder to read or see things on the screen, which often leads to strain. You can use a matte screen to reduce the glare. Increasing the font size to view text on your screen can prevent squinting, thereby reducing your eye strain. 

• Remember to adjust your seating position and your device's position- Make sure you sit about 20-26 inches away from the screen, which is approximately arm's length, and that the screen is just below eye level. Also, ensure that the chair you're seated on fits your body. Ideally, adjust the chair's height so that your feet rest flat on the floor.

Finding the top-rated eye doctors near you in San Antonio, Texas

Our eyes are sensitive and play an essential role in our daily functionality. Per data produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports, vision loss is a significant cause of disability in the US. Getting proper care for eye conditions is very important. Along with it, access to top-rated and trusted ophthalmologists and optometrists is imperative.

This is where Zocdoc can help, with the top-rated, qualified, and experienced ophthalmologists and optometrists on board. Our platform provides you with all vital information about doctors, including their education, experience, specialty, conditions treated, location, affiliations, languages spoken, and the insurance accepted. Moreover, verified reviews by past patients can also be instrumental in selecting exemplary practitioners for your medical needs. You can also check whether a healthcare professional treats children.

To book an appointment with an in-network eye doctor, all you have to do is select your insurance carrier and insurance plan from the drop-down menu on the Zocdoc website. You will then see a list of providers accepting your health insurance plan in your chosen location. If you are not able to see your specific health plan listed on Zocdoc, try uploading an image of your insurance card. Zocdoc will scan your card and show you a plan that best matches your card. Note that this option is available only for medical insurance cards. Dental and vision are excluded. If you need assistance with uploading your medical insurance card or have other queries, contact Zocdoc's service team. For more information on how insurance works on Zocdoc, check out the patient help center. 

Additionally, you can book appointments during, before, or after office hours, depending on the doctor's availability. You can also book appointments during holidays or weekends if the doctor's schedule permits. 

Booking appointments with an eye doctor near you on Zocdoc is quick, secure, and free!

Eye disorders statistics in Texas

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of people reporting blindness or severe difficulty seeing even with glasses is more than 650,000.

We can also observe from the data that around 24% of people with diabetes have severe vision impairment. Close to 29% of the population have arthritis, and nearly 33% of patients diagnosed with mobility issues also have vision impairment. 

The same report states that approximately 49% of individuals 65 years and older with severe vision impairment reported having one fall in the preceding year.

Sources

WebMD[1]

WebMD[2]

WebMD[3]

NVISION Eye Centers

Prevent Blindness

Medical News Today

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Cleveland Clinic

American Optometric Association

American Academy of Ophthalmology[1]

American Academy of Ophthalmology[2]

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.