More and more people every year seeks help from such a specialist as an ophthalmologist-surgeon. What kind of profession is this? We will get to know her better.
Who is an ophthalmologist-surgeon?
An ophthalmologist-surgeon is a doctor who warns, diagnoses and treats eye diseases, inflammatory processes of the eyelids and lacrimal ducts that require surgical intervention. Unfortunately, very often the pathological processes of the ocular organs and their components are brought to such a state that one can not do without an ophthalmologist-surgeon.
Ophthalmologist-surgeon is well versed in the structure and physiology of the eye organs, diagnoses diseases of the conjunctiva, retina, orbit, mucous.
Of all the known medical directions, this specialty is one of the youngest. Modern ophthalmologists cope with the most complex eye diseases, which were previously considered incurable.
Surgical and laser treatment are considered to be the most promising therapeutic methods for controlling eye pathologies. Who is an ophthalmologist-surgeon? It's not just an eye doctor, it's a specialist in microsurgery, microplasty, laser vision correction, and other modern types of medical interventions.
When should I go to an ophthalmologist-surgeon?
Any diseases of the eyes and their appendages can be quite dangerous for a normal and full life of a person. Therefore, having noticed the slightest signs of eye pathology, you should immediately visit an ophthalmologist: with sudden visual impairment, the appearance of photophobia, pressing pains and eruptions in the eyes, with disturbances in visual perception.
Immediate treatment of a specialist requires traumatic damage to the organs of vision, since during an injury the most important elements of the visual organs may suffer, which may occur after some time after the injury. An ophthalmologist-surgeon will immediately determine the problem and will take appropriate treatment.
What tests should I take when I contact an ophthalmologist-surgeon?
Immediately before contacting an ophthalmologist, the surgeon must pass a general, preferably deployed, blood test, and, if necessary, bacteriological examination of eye discharge.
Based on the patient's complaints or the history of his illness, after the examination and palpation examination of the eye organs, the specialist prescribes the necessary procedures: checking the visual acuity, determining the intraocular pressure.
To identify the provoking factor of the disease, a blood test for sugar, checking the hormonal balance in the body (in particular, thyroid hormones), diagnosis of blood and nervous system diseases can be prescribed.
According to the results of the examination and the collected materials of objective and subjective anamnesis, the specialist ophthalmologist-surgeon establishes a diagnosis and appoints the appropriate treatment.
What diagnostic methods does the ophthalmologist-surgeon use?
Depending on the expected disease, the ophthalmologist-surgeon may assign a number of additional examinations:
- ultrasound examination of the vascular system of the skull and cervical section;
- examination with the help of an ophthalmoscope (the retina is visible, the optic nerve);
- method of biological microscopy (allows a review of tissue cut, thanks to this you can see the slightest disturbance of the structure of tissues);
- visualization of the elements of the anterior chamber of the ocular organ, located beyond the difficult-to-view cornea zone (gonioscopy);
- use of a diaphanoscope with a preliminary anesthesia (with suspicion of eye oncology or with internal hematomas);
- measurement of intraocular pressure;
- method of echophthalmography (detects lens diseases, retinal detachment);
- study of the vessels of the fundus by the method of introducing a certain dye into the blood (helps to determine diseases of the eye tissues and optic nerves).
What does an ophthalmologist-surgeon do?
Nowadays, ophthalmology as a medical direction contains its own subsection, which is directly related to surgery in general. What is this specialty, and what does an ophthalmologist-surgeon do?
In his competence to solve the problems of eye physiology and surgical correction of refractive errors and eye focusing. Extensive surgical methods of corneal treatment (through and layered methods of transplantation), operative therapy of lens opacities, scleroplastic prophylactic operations (therapy of glaucoma patients, elimination of tearing disorders and inflammatory processes in the anterior part of the eye) - all these issues are decided by the ophthalmologist-surgeon.
He also deals with such important problems as eye traumatology, eye cancer, pathology of the nervous system, congenital malformations.
The specialist examines the patient, determines the type of surgery required, and performs surgery using a variety of surgical methods.
What diseases are treated by an ophthalmologist-surgeon?
Now we specify what diseases the ophthalmologist-surgeon treats:
- infringement of a form of a lens or a cornea (an astigmatism);
- surgical intervention with various refractive anomalies - visual defects of the refractive forces of the optical media of the eye (hyperopia and myopia);
- congenital malformations (strabismus, etc.);
- inflammatory processes of the organs of vision (treatment of conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis);
- corneal stains, scars, turbidity (keratoplasty);
- lesions of the orbit in diabetes mellitus;
- eye traumatology, the presence of foreign bodies in the eyes;
- plastic surgery on the organs of vision, removal of tumors;
- destruction of the vitreous body, glaucoma and much more.
These types of pathologies can arise as a result of trauma or age-related changes, as well as against the background of inflammatory processes or the defeat of a viral infection.
Advice of a physician ophthalmologist-surgeon
Many eye diseases appear as a result of the strain of the musculature of the eye (prolonged sitting behind the computer monitor, reading in a poorly lit room). In this case, there is a violation of local blood flow, the nutrition of eye tissues worsens. It is recommended to leave the class for at least a minute and look afar - into the window, to the opposite corner of the room, or simply close your eyes. With this exercise, the focus of the eye changes, and the required normal tone of the ocular musculature remains.
Unfavorably affects the eyesight, insufficient illumination during the work of the eyes, as well as the constant wearing of sunglasses, regardless of the time of day.
Avoid difficult-to-read texts that require excessive eye strain. Watch for the correct position of the back and neck during a long sitting position.
It is established that the appearance of refractive disorders is often associated with a lack of certain vitamins and trace elements in the body: ascorbic acid, retinol, zinc, magnesium salts, calcium, tocopherol. To prevent pathology, you need to enrich your daily diet with vegetables, fruits, herbs and berries. It will also be useful to use natural honey, freshly prepared dishes from cereals.
Take care of your vision, without it, human life is empty. Adhere to a healthy lifestyle, as much as possible rest, play sports. Refuse such unfavorable factors as smoking, lack of sleep, drinking alcohol.
If you have pathological situations with the eyesight organs, an ophthalmologist-surgeon will certainly help you, but you should always remember that prevention is the best treatment for any diseases.