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Who is an ophthalmologist? What do they do?

Ophthalmologists are skilled doctors and surgeons knowledgeable of various medical issues related to the eyes or vision. They specialize in diagnosing and treating the eye or any vision-related problem with medicine or surgery.

In the US, one has to finish around 12 years of study and training to become an ophthalmologist. It consists of four years of medical school and 4-5 years of additional training. A doctor who studies ophthalmology may choose to complete a fellowship to become a subspecialist in a specific field of eye care. This training allows them to handle more complicated or specialized issues in various eye regions or with a particular population. An eye specialist can conduct eye examinations, identify and cure illnesses and conditions of the eyes, perform ophthalmic surgery, and prescribe contact lenses or glasses.

Subspecialists may further choose to focus on:

• The cornea: This focuses on refractive eye surgery, cataract surgery, and corneal transplantation.
• Retina and vitreous: This section focuses on diseases that affect the retina and vitreous, sometimes known as the retina or uveitis. An ophthalmologist would treat conditions like diabetic retinopathy and retinal detachment with lasers and surgery.
• Glaucoma: This field focuses on the medical and surgical management of disorders that harm the optic nerve.
• Pediatric ophthalmology is a subfield of ophthalmology that specializes in treating children's eye diseases.
• Oculoplastics, often known as plastic and reconstructive surgery, is the study of surgical techniques such as tumor removal and bone fracture repair.
• Neuro-ophthalmology: This field deals with neurological diseases that have visible symptoms.
• Oncology of the eye: Deals with detecting and managing cancer in or around the eye.

What conditions do ophthalmologists treat?

There are many eye or vision issues that a patient may face. Some of these are:

• Cataracts, which result in a messy hash on the lens of the patient's eye
• Strabismus, or squint, which is when the eyes are not aligned
• Glaucoma, which refers to optic nerve damage and causes fluid to accumulate
• Amblyopia, or lazy eye, is when vision does not develop properly in one eye
• Intraocular inflammation, which is inflammation of the eye
• Retinal issues like bleeding, swelling, and retinal detachment

Thus, an ophthalmologist helps relieve the patient of all their visual impairments so that they can lead a hassle-free life. To put it simply, an ophthalmologist is an expert at treating:

• Macular degeneration is a retinal condition that impairs central vision.
• Varying degrees of eye damage.
• A contagious eye condition.
• Uncommon eye illnesses such as bloody tears caused by diabetic retinopathy.

What type of tests/examinations do they perform?

Whether a patient requires a routine eye exam or has a particular eye-related concern, ophthalmologists can help them by performing the appropriate tests. A thorough eye examination may last 45 to 90 minutes. The ophthalmologist may inquire about the patient's medical history, including their family members. The eye specialist may then examine the eyes to test some of the following factors:

• Testing visual acuity with an eye chart

Patients stand 20 feet away from a chart, close one eye, and describe what they see. A Snellen chart, which shows letters that get smaller from top to bottom, is the most used eye chart. It aids the physician in determining how clear the patient's eyesight is.

• Visual field evaluation

Ophthalmologists do visual field evaluations to determine a patient's overall field of vision, any blind patches, and other problems that can impair vision. 

• Eye pressure measurements

The optic nerve may get damaged by excessive pressure, which can occasionally cause glaucoma. Tonometry is the measurement of ocular pressure.

When should one visit an ophthalmologist?

If a person has any of the following signs, they should see an ophthalmologist:

• Reduced vision due to eye discomfort.
• A person may have new eye floaters resembling black "strings" that move across their vision.
• Light flashes can cause redness of the eye, ocular discharge or tears, and bulging of one or both eyes.
• Crossed eyes (esotropia), double vision (diplopia), seeing spots or ghostly images, distorted or wavy lines, and dry, itchy, or burning eyes.
• People with diabetes should consider visiting an eye specialist because the condition can lead to diabetic retinopathy.

Questions you can ask your ophthalmologist

You may visit an ophthalmologist near you as part of a routine examination or for a specific eye concern. In either case, knowing your eye health in detail is essential. Here are some questions you can ask them:

• Do I have any eye conditions or concerns?
• What causes this problem?
• Will it affect my vision now or in the future?
• Do I need to make any adjustments to my daily routine?
• Are there any symptoms I need to be aware of?
• What should I do if those symptoms appear?
• Do I need to take any tests?
• When can I expect to get the results of my tests?
• Are there any risks or side effects to the test?
• Will I require additional testing in the future?
• What treatment do you think is best for me, and why?
• When will the treatment begin, and what will be the duration?
• What information do I need to know about the medication you've prescribed?
• Are there any side effects?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of this treatment?
• Are there any other alternatives to this treatment?

How is diabetes related to eye problems?

Diabetes may damage your eyes over time, causing vision loss and even blindness. The good news is that managing your diabetes while getting periodic eye examinations can help prevent and treat vision impairments.

Diabetic retinopathy, macular edema (which commonly develops alongside diabetic retinopathy), cataracts, and glaucoma are various eye illnesses that can affect individuals with diabetes. All of these conditions can affect vision, but early detection and treatment can help safeguard it.

Cataracts and their types

A cataract is the clouding of the typically clear natural lens of the eye. For individuals with cataracts, seeing through a cloudy lens is similar to looking through a frosty or fogged-up window, making daily activities like reading, driving at night, or recognizing facial expressions more challenging. Cataracts usually develop gradually and may not immediately impact vision, but they will likely cause noticeable vision impairment over time.

In the early stages, brighter lighting and stronger eyeglass prescriptions can help manage cataracts. However, cataract surgery—a generally safe and effective procedure—may be recommended to restore clear sight if vision becomes significantly affected.

There are several types of cataracts:

1. Nuclear cataracts: These form in the center of the lens and may initially blur distant vision while briefly improving close-up vision. Over time, the lens may become yellow or brown, distorting vision and color perception.
2. Cortical cataracts: Beginning as white, wedge-like streaks on the lens's outer edge, cortical cataracts gradually spread inward, affecting light passage and clarity.
3. Posterior subcapsular cataracts: These form at the back of the lens and often impact reading vision, create glare in bright light, and cause halos around lights at night. They tend to progress faster than other cataract types.
4. Congenital cataracts: Present from birth or developed during childhood, these cataracts may be inherited or linked to in-womb infections or trauma. Conditions like myotonic dystrophy, galactosemia, neurofibromatosis type 2, and rubella may also contribute. Congenital cataracts do not always impact vision, but if they do, they are usually treated soon after discovery.

Each type of cataract affects vision differently and may require specific management or treatment approaches.

How can you prevent or manage eye conditions?

You can protect your vision and decrease your risk of vision loss by taking the following steps:

• Get a dilated examination of the eyes at least once a year so your eye doctor can detect any issues early on when they are most treatable.
• Maintain your blood sugar levels as per your goal range. High blood sugar not only affects the blood vessels in your eyes over time, but it can also change the shape of your lenses and cause your vision to blur.
• Maintain cholesterol and blood pressure in healthy ranges to reduce your chances of eye illness and vision loss. This is also beneficial to your overall health.
• Quit smoking since it reduces your chance of diabetes-related eye disorders while also improving your health in a variety of other ways.
• Engaging in physical activity as it safeguards your eyes and aids in the management of diabetes.

Finding an ophthalmologist near you in Silver Spring, Maryland

You must consult an ophthalmologist if you have a family history of eye problems, diabetes, or vision problems. Sometimes, your family physician or optometrist may refer you to an eye specialist if you have had surgery or injections to treat macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.

References may work, but finding a top-rated ophthalmologist can still be challenging. Extensive research is required to see whether hospitals or doctors will accept your health coverage, whether an ophthalmologist will be readily accessible on weekends, whether you can schedule online or digital appointments, and so on. The search just got easier with Zocdoc! 

Head to the Zocdoc website and search from the library of options provided by our regularly updated provider directory. Simply type in your preferred specialty, condition, and symptoms in the search bar. You may also filter your search by choosing the preferred date and location. You can also filter those ophthalmologists near you who accept your insurance carrier plan, which may help you save some money. 

If you prefer not to share your insurance information with your provider when booking an appointment on Zocdoc, you'll be prompted to either provide your insurance details or indicate that you'll be paying out-of-pocket. Some providers may require insurance information to schedule an appointment. However, if you don't have insurance or choose not to use it for your visit, you can easily find another provider on Zocdoc who meets your needs. For more insurance-related questions, you can visit Zocdoc's patient help center.

Not only are the features above limited, but the provider profiles further tell you about the healthcare provider's educational qualifications, board certifications, expertise, and languages. Zocdoc also believes in making the best kind of healthcare available to you. Hence, we are constantly updating the verified patient reviews and ratings for the providers so that you can make an informed decision. 

All bookings on Zocdoc are simple, secure, and 100% free!

Vision difficulties in Maryland, USA

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vision disability shows up as one of the top 10 disabilities in adults and one of the most prominent disabilities in children. In the USA, approximately 12 million people over the age of 40 have vision impairment. This includes almost 1 million people who are blind, nearly 3 million who have vision impairment despite correction, and 8 million who have vision impairment due to uncorrected refractive error. The CDC estimated 93 million adults in the United States are at high risk of vision loss.

In the state of Maryland, a total of 111,669 people (according to the American Foundation for the Blind) had vision difficulties in 2019. This included 50,125 males and 61,544 females. Out of these, the most common age group was between the ages of 35 and 64, with 38,728 people reporting vision difficulty. Children under 5 had 641 reported cases, while children between 5 and 17 years of age had 8,658 reported cases of visual difficulty. In older citizens, 19,685 people between the ages of 65 and 74 suffered from these difficulties, while 30,870 adults over the age of 74 had vision difficulties.   

Sources

American Academy of Ophthalmology[1]

WebMD

Cleveland Clinic

HealthDirect

British Journal of Ophthalmology

BeMo

National Federation of the Blind

American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus

American Foundation of the Blind

Mayo Clinic[1]

Mayo Clinic[2] 

Mayo Clinic[3]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[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.