If you are considering a career in medicine, or are just curious to know what different medical specialties are all about, here is brief look at the field of ophthalmology.

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who have completed medical school, a residency in diagnosis, treatment and surgery of the eyes. Many ophthalmologists go on to complete a fellowship specializing in specific areas of ophthalmologic practice. The American Academy of Ophthalmology includes the following sub-specialties in this scope of practice.

Cataract

Cataracts, cloudy areas that form in the eye's crystalline lens as proteins begin to clump together, are treated with surgery to remove and replace the natural lens with an intraocular lens (IOL).

Corneal and External Disease

Ophthalmologists treat a variety of corneal disorders such as keratoconus, eye diseases such as parasites, macular corneal dystrophy and many other disorders that affect the conjunctiva and corneal surfaces.

Glaucoma

Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat several glaucoma conditions:

•     Glaucoma

•     Open Angle Glaucoma

•     Angle Closure Glaucoma

•     Childhood Glaucoma

•     Normal Tension Glaucoma

Treatment can include eye drops, laser treatment and surgery.

Neuro-Ophthalmology

This specialty area deals with treating:

•     Optic Nerve Disorders

•     Visual Field Problems

•     Ocular and Facial Motor Nerve Disorders

•     Thyroid Eye Disease

•     Blepharoplasty

•     Abnormal Pupils

•     Visual Acuity

•     Color Vision

•     Medical Use of Botulinum Toxin

•     Optic Disc Edema

Ocular Pathology, Immunology and Oncology

Ocular pathology is the science of detecting disease. Ocular immunology evaluates and manages ocular diseases triggered immunologically. Ocular oncology treats cancers that affect the eyes or orbital areas.

Oculoplastics

Oculoplastics is art and science combined to produce cosmetic eye surgery and treatment to improve both function and appearance. This specialty includes treatment such as:

•     Managing Obstruction Caused by a Deviated Septum

•     Injection of Botulinum Toxins

•     Soft Tissue Filler Injection

•     Midface Laxity

•     Cosmetic Dacial Surgery

•     Thyroid Eye Disease

•     Orbital Fracture Repair

•     Orbital Implantation

Pediatric Ophthalmology Strabismus

Pediatric ophthalmologic specialists treat eye disorders in children. While some of these disorders are present in adults as well, many present early in life.

•     Strabismus

•     Amblyopia

•     Pediatric Cataracts

•     Ecchymosis and Eyelid Edema

•     Unilateral Proptosis

•     Duane Syndrome

•     Horizontal and Vertical Nystagmus

•     Esotropia

•     Extropia

•     Hypertropia

•     Anisometropia

•     Diplopia

•     Infantile Glaucoma

•     Corneal Hydrops

Refractive Disorder Treatment

Ophthalmologists regularly treat the common refractive disorders of astigmatism, hyperopia, myopia, and presbyopia as well as cataracts, keratoconus and more using laser technology, radio wave technology, surgery, implants, lens exchanges and other high tech methods. These include:

•     Implantable lenses–phakic IOLs, toric ICLs and others.

•     LASIK

•     PLK

•     Phototherapeutic Keratectomy

•     Monovision

•     Keratoconus

Retinal Diseases and Disorders

There are a number of common diseases and disorders of the retina that can be diagnosed and treated only with the medical training and expertise of a doctor of ophthalmology. Ophthalmologists often diagnose systemic diseases based on their retinal manifestations such as diabetic retinopathy. Macular diseases also come under this specialty, as do some optic nerve and vitreous disorders.