Who is an ophthalmologist - is there any difference from an ophthalmologist and how does an appointment with this doctor go?

What is the name of the doctor who treats eyes?

Eye doctors in our country are traditionally called ophthalmologists. What kind of doctor is this - an ophthalmologist and what are the specifics of his work? In fact, from the point of view of terminology, “ophthalmologist” and “ophthalmologist” are synonyms. The word "oculus" is of Latin origin and means "eye". "Ophthalmos" is also "eye", only in ancient Greek. Thus, there is no difference between the names of professions. Based on the etymology, you can understand what an ophthalmologist means - a doctor who treats eye diseases.

In Western European countries, the term “ophthalmologist” is used. Gradually, Russian clinics are beginning to actively implement it. It would be a misconception to think that an ophthalmologist is a different profession. He does the same thing as an ophthalmologist - he treats the eyes and organs of the visual system. Moreover, any specialist can have a narrower specialization: for example, there are ophthalmological surgeons, pediatric ophthalmologists, etc.

From which specialist can you expect a more effective solution to vision problems?

Is an ophthalmologist a specialist in the same profile as an ophthalmologist, but at a higher level?
Or do these doctors have different functions? Who is the best person to contact if you have vision problems? Such questions often concern people suffering from eye diseases.

In fact, both of these specialists are representatives of the same profession. The only difference between them is that doctors involved in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the visual organs were called ophthalmologists until 1981, then the staffing schedule of medical institutions was changed, and today doctors called ophthalmologists are at the forefront of the fight against eye diseases.

By the way, in a sense, an ophthalmologist is indeed a specialist of a higher level than an ophthalmologist, because doctors working in modern ophthalmological clinics equipped with high-tech medical devices are able to solve vision problems much more effectively than their colleagues from the very recent past.

What does an ophthalmologist treat?

Answering the question of what kind of doctor is an ophthalmologist and what he treats, we will list the most common diseases.

1. Glaucoma.

2. Cataract.

3. Refractive errors - myopia, farsightedness, astigmatism.

4. Strabismus.

5. Ptosis.

6. Retinal diseases (detachment, dystrophy).

7. Injuries to the eyes, eyelids, lacrimal glands.

8. Inflammatory eye diseases (conjunctivitis, keratitis, barley, etc.).

9. Color vision disorders.

10. Hemorrhages.

Many vision problems are caused by diseases of other organs. This means that an ophthalmologist also treats pathologies associated with hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes, difficult pregnancy or childbirth, and renal failure.

For children

According to WHO, about 20% of preschool children suffer from eye diseases. Every 4 children have visual impairment. Children suffering from eye diseases and visual impairment cannot develop normally physically and this significantly worsens the quality of life.

It is very important to remember that the health of the child should be in the first place for the parents. Due to the growth of modern digital technologies, the health of a child's eyes is at risk.

A visit to a specialist is now simply a big necessity, which can prevent a number of many unpleasant diseases and help maintain the baby’s sharp vision for a long time.

When should you contact an ophthalmologist?

An ophthalmologist is an eye doctor. Therefore, you need to make an appointment with him if you experience any eye problems. It is better not to delay a visit to the doctor: some diseases that seem not serious, such as conjunctivitis, can have serious complications: inflammation of the cornea, formation of a cataract, decreased vision, etc.

Warning signs for which it is advisable to see an ophthalmologist are:

• pain, burning, severe itching in the eyes;
• redness of the eyelids or eyeball;
• swelling of the eyelids in the absence of objective reasons;
• fog before the eyes;
• double vision;
• painful reaction to light;
• change in the field of view (narrowing, loss of some areas);
• distortion of objects;
• decreased visual acuity;
• increased lacrimation;
• feeling that there is a foreign body in the eye;
• pus discharge from the eyes;
• any injuries.

There are also people who are at risk for developing eye diseases and pathologies. Regular visits to an ophthalmologist (or, in other words, an ophthalmologist) are prescribed for people suffering from diabetes and pregnant women. In addition, diseases of the kidneys, liver, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems can cause serious eye complications. It is recommended that people with a hereditary predisposition to the diseases listed above have their eye condition checked at least once a year.

Many regenerative processes are associated with age-related changes. People over 45 years of age need to be careful about their eyes and get doctors' recommendations on how to preserve their vision (gymnastics, vitamins, moisturizing drops, etc.). Knowing what an ophthalmologist is treating is also important for patients who are undergoing a long course of hormonal therapy. An excess of hormones can lead to exophthalmos (protrusion of the eyes) or diabetic retinopathy (the blood vessels of the fundus grow abnormally, the retina is damaged, and vision decreases).

How do ophthalmologists at the Excimer Clinic conduct vision diagnostics?

High-precision diagnostic instruments available in the arsenal of our clinic’s specialists allow us to assess the state of the visual system literally with micron accuracy.

Instead of outdated tables for checking visual acuity, Excimer uses projection devices; simple glasses with diopters are replaced by electronic phoropters. Our ophthalmologists scan the visual system, recording its slightest features and distortions using a unique device, a wavefront analyzer or an aberrometer. Tomographs, tonographs, autorefractometers, echo scans, devices designed for ophthalmological examination of children from the first days of life, and much more - the equipment used in the Excimer clinic makes it possible not only to determine visual acuity as accurately as possible, but also to identify various even the smallest and hidden pathologies of the visual system.

Don't delay visiting an ophthalmologist! Remember, accurate diagnosis and timely treatment of eye diseases will help you preserve your vision!

What is an appointment with an ophthalmologist at the Excimer Clinic like?

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Diagnostic methods

Now that we have figured out what kind of doctor an ophthalmologist is, let's look at what diagnostic methods he uses. The first step is a visual examination, but then the doctor can use a whole arsenal of modern diagnostic equipment to select the optimal treatment.

An ophthalmologist diagnoses eye diseases using the following methods:

• tonometry - measurement of intraocular pressure;
• refractometry - a study of refraction to identify myopia, farsightedness, astigmatism;
• visometry - a study of visual acuity familiar to everyone from childhood using tables with letters/images;
• color test to determine the ability to distinguish shades;
• ultrasound and optical biometry - study of the physical characteristics of the eye, the condition of the cornea and lens;
• ophthalmoscopy - examination of the eye using an ophthalmoscope, which allows you to examine the internal structures of the eye;
• biomicroscopy - study of the structure of the eye using a slit lamp;
• angiography - examination of the condition of the blood vessels of the eye by introducing a special dye;
• tonography - measurement of the rate of outflow of aqueous humor, necessary for glaucoma.

General rules for preparing for an appointment with an ophthalmologist

First of all, you need to systematize all your symptoms and complaints in order to clearly and thoroughly describe them to the doctor. It makes sense to take the results of tests and examinations that were done no earlier than half a year before the scheduled examination with an ophthalmologist. Women should not wear cosmetics when going to the doctor. For those who wear contacts, they should be removed at least an hour before your appointment, and in general, if possible, it is best to temporarily switch to glasses about a week before your doctor's appointment.

What does an ophthalmologist do and what treatment methods does he use?

The choice of treatment method depends on the specific disease. Typically, a general ophthalmologist will prescribe local or general treatment, eye exercises and physical therapy. But surgical intervention is carried out by ophthalmologist-surgeons - specialists who own modern minimally invasive equipment for performing operations on the eyeball

Causes of eye diseases

In the modern world, the role of digital and computer technologies in our lives cannot be underestimated. Unfortunately, not everything is as good as it seems. Computers, tablets and other gadgets can sharply reduce vision, which negatively affects the usual course of life and well-being. An ophthalmologist will help make the correct diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Circumstances of deterioration of eye health:

• unfavorable environmental conditions can also lead to unpleasant symptoms of visual impairment;
• poor metabolism in the body only contributes to eye diseases;
• bad habits reduce visual acuity;
• lack of vitamins and minerals;
• stress;
• head injuries;
• various diseases, both infectious and non-infectious.

Main eye diseases:

1. myopia affects people of all ages;
2. astigmatism - with this disease, the clarity of the objects in question is disrupted;
3. farsightedness usually appears with age;
4. Chalazion is a neoplasm that appears under the eyelid, mainly under the upper one. Inflammation can also spread to the tissues surrounding the eye.
5. dry eye - insufficient hydration of the cornea and conjunctiva, expressed in a feeling of burning and stinging in the eyes;
6. stye is caused by infection and requires complex treatment;
7. cataract - clouding of the lens is almost impossible to prevent, you can only slow it down;
8. macular degeneration leads to blindness due to damage to the retina;
9. conjunctivitis - damage to the mucous membrane, possibly redness and purulent discharge;
10. color blindness is a violation of human color perception, a congenital defect;
11. scleritis - inflammation of the fibrinous membrane of the eyeball, caused by autoimmune pathologies;
12. blepharitis - inflammation of the eyelid, manifests itself in the form of redness, peeling of the eyelids and sticking of eyelashes;
13. retinal dystrophy is a whole group of diseases characterized by impaired light perception.

Vision testing in children

You can explain to your children which doctor treats eyes and what another name an ophthalmologist is by making an appointment with the doctor. Vision testing in children should be carried out regularly: at a younger age, it will make sure that the child does not have congenital pathologies and the development of the visual organs is in accordance with the norm, and at an older age, it will prevent the development of myopia. The most vulnerable age for myopathy is 8-14 years, when eye strain increases sharply, and children are not yet accustomed to maintaining workplace hygiene.

Children with poor heredity should definitely visit an ophthalmologist.
In childhood, it is easier to identify and treat many disorders - astigmatism, strabismus, farsightedness, myopia, etc. Timely prescription of correction will avoid the development of other diseases - strabismus and amblyopia. It is advisable for children to see an ophthalmologist at least once a year. Ophthalmologists of the Lensmaster chain of salons specialize in refractive error and eye accommodation, so they can choose suitable glasses or contact lenses even for people with serious impairments. There are children's specialists who are ready to conduct a full vision examination of children from 7 years of age. You can make an appointment in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don and other cities of Russia through the online form.

Why are preventive examinations by an ophthalmologist necessary?

Even if you feel absolutely healthy, it is still advisable to undergo an annual examination by an ophthalmologist. It will once again confirm the normal functioning of the visual system or identify eye pathologies at an early stage, which is important for effective treatment.

Both children and adults should undergo preventive examinations by an ophthalmologist. In a young child, the visual system is still developing, and if the disorder is identified at an early stage, there is a high probability of restoring normal vision functions. The capabilities of modern ophthalmology make it possible to effectively treat childhood strabismus, binocular vision disorders, myopia and other pathologies. They can be identified during preventive examinations.

For adult patients, prevention of eye diseases is also important. With age, certain changes occur in the eyes, which can lead to a decrease in visual acuity, the development of macular degeneration, and pathological changes in the lens and retina.

Monitoring by an ophthalmologist will help to detect in time and, with the help of well-chosen therapy, slow down the pathological processes that lead to age-related vision loss.

Prevention of eye diseases during pregnancy is of particular importance. The period of bearing a child changes a woman’s hormonal levels, increases stress on the eyes, and can lead to a decrease in visual acuity and exacerbation of chronic diseases. An ophthalmologist for pregnant women is one of the most important specialists, because together with the gynecologist, he decides whether a woman can give birth on her own or whether a cesarean section will be required. With some eye pathologies, retinal detachment may occur during childbirth, so in some cases natural childbirth is contraindicated.

When should you contact an ophthalmologist during pregnancy? Typically, routine preventive examinations are provided every trimester. However, if the doctor detects a risk of retinal detachment, progressive myopia, or other pathologies that may threaten a woman's vision, he may schedule more frequent visits for the pregnant patient.