Ophthalmic surgeon

More and more people every year seek help from such a specialist as an ophthalmologist-surgeon. What kind of profession is this? Let's get to know it better.

Who is an ophthalmologist-surgeon?

An ophthalmologist-surgeon is a doctor who prevents, diagnoses and treats eye diseases, inflammatory processes of the eyelids and tear ducts that require surgical intervention. Unfortunately, very often pathological processes of the eye organs and their components are brought to such a state that you simply cannot do without an ophthalmologist-surgeon.

An ophthalmologist-surgeon has an excellent understanding of the structure and physiology of the eye organs, and diagnoses diseases of the conjunctiva, retina, eye socket, and mucous membranes.

Of all the known medical fields, this specialty is one of the youngest. Modern ophthalmologists cope with the most complex eye diseases that were previously considered incurable.

Surgical and laser treatment are considered the most promising therapeutic methods for combating eye pathologies. Who is an ophthalmologist-surgeon? This is not just an eye doctor, this is a specialist in microsurgery, microplastics, laser vision correction, and other modern types of medical interventions.

When should you see 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: in case of sudden visual impairment, the appearance of photophobia, pressing pain and burning in the eyes, in case of visual perception disorders.

Traumatic lesions of the visual organs require immediate attention from a specialist, since the most important elements of the visual organs may be damaged during the injury, which may also manifest itself some time after the injury. An ophthalmologist-surgeon will immediately identify the problem and begin appropriate treatment.

What tests should you take when visiting an ophthalmologist-surgeon?

Immediately before contacting an ophthalmologist-surgeon, it is necessary to take a general, preferably detailed, blood test, and, if necessary, a bacteriological examination of eye discharge.

Based on the patient's complaints or medical history, after conducting an examination and palpation of the eye organs, the specialist prescribes the necessary procedures: checking visual acuity, determining intraocular pressure.

To identify the provoking factor of the disease, a blood sugar test, a check of the hormonal balance in the body (in particular, thyroid hormones), and diagnostics of blood and nervous system diseases may be prescribed.

Based on the results of the examination and the collected materials of the objective and subjective anamnesis, the ophthalmologist-surgeon specialist establishes a diagnosis and prescribes appropriate treatment.

What diagnostic methods does an ophthalmologist-surgeon use?

Depending on the suspected disease, the ophthalmologist-surgeon may prescribe a number of additional examinations:

• ultrasound examination of the vascular system of the skull and cervical spine;
• examination using an ophthalmoscope (the retina and optic nerve are visible);
• biological microscopy method (allows for viewing a tissue section, thanks to which the slightest disturbances in tissue structure can be noticed);
• visualization of elements of the anterior chamber of the eye organ located behind the hard-to-see area of the cornea (gonioscopy);
• use of a diaphanoscope with preliminary anesthesia (if eye cancer is suspected or if there are internal hematomas);
• measurement of intraocular pressure;
• echophthalmography method (detects lens diseases, retinal detachment);
• examination of the vessels of the fundus of the eye by introducing a certain dye into the blood (helps to identify diseases of the eye tissues and optic nerves).

What does an ophthalmologist surgeon do?

Nowadays, ophthalmology as a medical field contains its own subdivision, which is directly related to surgery in general. What kind of specialty is this, and what does an ophthalmologist-surgeon do?

His competence includes solving problems of ocular physiology and surgical correction of refractive anomalies and eye focusing. Extensive surgical methods of corneal treatment (through and layer-by-layer transplantation methods), surgical therapy of lens opacities, scleroplastic preventive operations (treatment of patients with glaucoma, elimination of lacrimation disorders and inflammatory processes in the anterior segment of the eye) - all these issues are solved by an ophthalmologist-surgeon.

He also deals with such important issues as eye traumatology, eye cancer, nervous system pathology, and congenital developmental anomalies.

The specialist examines the patient, determines the necessary type of surgical intervention, and performs the operation using a variety of surgical methods.

What diseases does an ophthalmologist-surgeon treat?

Now let's specify what diseases an ophthalmologist-surgeon treats:

• abnormalities in the shape of the lens or cornea (astigmatism);
• surgical intervention for various refractive anomalies – visual defects of the refractive powers of the optical media of the eye (farsightedness and nearsightedness);
• congenital developmental anomalies (strabismus, etc.);
• inflammatory processes of the visual organs (treatment of conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis);
• corneal spots, scars, opacities (keratoplasty);
• orbital lesions in diabetes mellitus;
• eye traumatology, presence of foreign bodies in the eyes;
• plastic surgery on the organs of vision, removal of neoplasms;
• destruction of the vitreous body, glaucoma and much more.

These types of pathologies can arise as a result of injuries or age-related changes, as well as against the background of inflammatory processes or viral infection.

Advice from an ophthalmologist-surgeon

Many eye diseases occur as a result of straining the eye muscles (sitting for a long time at a computer monitor, reading in a poorly lit room). This disrupts local blood flow, and the nutrition of eye tissues deteriorates. It is recommended that if you have constant eye strain, you stop doing the exercise for at least a minute and look into the distance - out the window, into the opposite corner of the room, or simply close your eyes. This exercise changes the focus of the eye, and the necessary normal tone of the eye muscles is maintained.

Insufficient lighting during eye work, as well as constant wearing of sunglasses regardless of the time of day, have an adverse effect on vision.

Avoid difficult to read texts that require excessive eye strain. Maintain proper back and neck posture when sitting for long periods of time.

It has been established that the occurrence of refractive errors is often associated with a deficiency of certain vitamins and microelements in the body: ascorbic acid, retinol, zinc, magnesium salts, calcium, tocopherol. To prevent pathology, it is necessary to enrich your daily diet with vegetables, fruits, greens and berries. It will also be useful to consume natural honey, freshly prepared dishes from cereals.

Take care of your eyesight, without it human life will be empty. Maintain a healthy lifestyle, rest as much as possible, play sports. Give up such unfavorable factors as smoking, lack of sleep, drinking alcohol.

If pathological situations with the organs of vision arise, an ophthalmologist-surgeon will certainly help you, but it is always necessary to remember that prevention is the best treatment for any disease.