Who is an ophthalmologist?
A doctor who specifically specializes in eye care is known as an ophthalmologist. To become an ophthalmologist, one must complete advanced medical training, typically devoting more than a decade to studying eye illnesses and diseases. An ophthalmologist can specialize in subspecialties of ophthalmology by completing further training.
What are some common subspecialties of ophthalmology?
Some ophthalmologists complete an additional one or two years of advanced training or a fellowship program in a specific surgical or medical eye care area. Such doctors are referred to as "subspecialists" and are trained to treat complex eye conditions in a particular group of patients. Some common areas ophthalmologists subspecialize in include:
- Neuro-ophthalmology: This subspecialty combines the fields of neurology and ophthalmology. Neuroophthalmologists study how the eyes interact with the brain, nerves, and muscles and what causes vision problems. They treat neurological symptoms like double vision, abnormal eye movements, and eyelid abnormalities, which may indicate conditions like a stroke, brain tumors, or multiple sclerosis.
- Pediatric ophthalmology: These ophthalmologists focus on diagnosing and treating eye conditions in developing children, including infants, adolescents, and teenagers. Some common conditions pediatric ophthalmologists treat include- strabismus, amblyopia, and genetic or congenital abnormalities.
- Vitreoretinal diseases: These include local, systemic, and genetic conditions that affect the retina and vitreous (a clear gel that maintains the eye shape and allows clear space for light to pass through and reach the retina). Vitreoretinal disease specialists may use ultrasound, fluorescein angiography, and electrophysiology to diagnose retinal diseases.
Are ophthalmologists different from optometrists?
Ophthalmologists are similar to optometrists in that both can administer routine eye exams and diagnose and treat eye conditions. However, both healthcare professionals are different. The critical difference lies in their training and education levels and the extent of medical services provided.
An ophthalmologist is an MD or osteopathic doctor (DO) who completes nearly 12 to 13 years of advanced medical training, allowing them to prescribe medication, perform eye surgery, and treat a broader range of eye conditions instead of optometrists and opticians.
On the other hand, optometrists obtain a doctor of optometry (OD) degree after completing 2 to 4 years of college education, followed by four years of optometry school. Optometrists generally provide primary vision care, which involves vision testing, detecting abnormalities in the eye, and giving correction and treatment. Optometrists in some states in the US are allowed to dispense medication. In many offices, clinics, and hospital facilities, optometrists and ophthalmologists work together and are assisted by ophthalmic medical technicians for specific tests and surgeries.
Cataracts and glaucoma
Cataracts and glaucoma are the most prevalent eye illnesses that can lead to blindness. Cataracts damage the natural lens of the eye, a structure that aids in producing sharp images. They also cause obscured vision, visual loss, double vision, and light sensitivity in people. Living with cataracts can feel like staring out of a filthy window. This disorder can develop due to aging or certain medical illnesses, such as diabetes, ocular inflammation, or ocular trauma, which can occur earlier in life.
If you detect any changes in your eyesight, especially if they come suddenly, you should contact an ophthalmologist near you. People with cataracts have obscured vision and see a "halo" surrounding lights.
Glaucoma is a category of illnesses characterized by increased intraocular fluid pressure. Unlike cataracts, you may not detect the consequences of glaucoma until it is advanced, earning it the nickname "sneak thief of sight." There are times, though, when glaucoma appears unexpectedly and troubles your eye. Knowing when to see an ophthalmologist reduces eye pressure and prevents optic nerve damage.
If you see blind patches or tunnel vision, these are classic indicators of glaucoma. However, if you have blurred vision, eye pain, severe headaches, nausea, or vomiting, you should seek immediate medical attention as soon as possible before the damage becomes irreversible.
If you detect any changes in your vision, especially if you see flashes or spots, you should immediately consult an ophthalmologist. These changes could be harmless or indicate something more serious.
What conditions do ophthalmologists treat?
Besides cataracts and glaucoma, ophthalmologists diagnose and treat a wide variety of vision problems, including:
- Corneal disease: Corneal disease refers to a number of conditions affecting your cornea. Typically, these conditions fall into one of the three categories: keratitis, corneal ectasia, and corneal dystrophy. Other illnesses classified as corneal disease include pterygium, herpetic eye disease, bullous keratopathy, and corneal abrasion.
- Retinal detachment: Retinal detachment occurs when your retina detaches from the tissues that support it. While this condition is painless, it negatively affects vision and can even cause blindness in some cases. Seeing flashes of light, darkening of your peripheral vision, and seeing several floaters (dark spots, threads, or squiggly lines that drift across your vision) are some common symptoms of retinal detachment.
- Strabismus: Strabismus is a condition in which your eyes are misaligned (both eyes turned in different directions). While this condition is more common in children, adults—especially those who have had strokes or suffered physical trauma—can also experience it. Symptoms of strabismus include headaches, double vision, and eye strain.
- Diabetes-related retinopathy: Diabetes-related retinopathy weakens the blood vessels in your retina. Anyone who has diabetes can develop this disease, the symptoms of which include poor night vision, trouble seeing faraway objects, newly-developed color blindness or seeing colors as faded, and blurred vision.
When should you visit an ophthalmologist?
Make an appointment with an ophthalmologist near you if you are concerned about your vision or notice any of the following risk factors:
- Vision obstructed by a veil/dark curtain
- Bulging eye(s)
- Diminished vision (temporarily)
- A lot of tearing
- Anomalies of the eyelids
- Distorted vision
- Double vision
- Eye problems that run in families
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Eye injury
- Seeing halo effects (colored circles surrounding lights)
- HIV/AIDS
- Loss of peripheral (side) vision
- Seeing flashes of light and noticing new floaters
- Pain in the eyes
- Misalignment of the eyes
- An unusually bright red eye(s)
- Grave's disease or other eye problems caused by thyroid illness
Necessary information to keep handy before visiting an ophthalmologist
The following information is required during a visit to the ophthalmologist for efficient treatment:
- New patient forms need to be filled out with all the necessary details. If you are a new patient, please communicate with the help desk 15 minutes before the appointment to complete the forms.
- A health insurance card and photo ID
- List all your current medications, including their dosages and frequency.
- Past eye or other surgical procedures
- Family history of eye problems
- Known allergies
- Current eyeglasses and contact lens prescription (if you wear contacts)
- Medical documents from other relevant providers
Finding the best ophthalmologist near you in San Jose, CA
Choosing a friendly and reliable eye doctor or ophthalmologist is crucial. Moreover, given the vast diversity in clinical specializations and the high costs, you should be confident in your selection.
Zocdoc is here to make finding and selecting the best ophthalmologists easy. You can access the top-rated ophthalmologists in your area with just a few steps. Every practitioner listed on Zocdoc has a dedicated profile containing information about their education, experience, specialty, location, board certifications, awards, and even the languages spoken. The verified patient reviews will also go a long way in helping you select the best ophthalmologists for your needs.
In addition, you can also see if the practitioner accepts your insurance using Zocdoc’s insurance detector. While you can add medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your Zocdoc account, you can only search for and schedule an appointment with one insurance plan at a time. In case you have multiple plans, you can mention your secondary insurance plan and carrier in your notes for the provider in the last step of the booking process. If your provider uses Zocdoc’s intake forms, you can add details about your secondary insurance while filling out your forms online. For more insurance-related queries, check Zocdoc's patient help center.
Booking an appointment with the right ophthalmologist near you on Zocdoc is hassle-free, quick, and without any charges!
Statistics about vision in California
As per a JAMA Network article in 2022, there were 22.18 eye care practitioners for every 100,000 people in California. Visual impairment was prevalent in 2411.07 California residents for every 100,000 population in the state.
As per the Vision Center, in 2018, 4.89% of the adult population in California were completely blind or had issues seeing. The numbers were higher among adults over 65 (8.23%) compared to those between 18 and 39 (3.11%) and those between 40 and 64 (5.07%). The report also stated that 68.81% of children below 18 in the state had a vision test in 2017.
An article published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information in 2019 stated that 5,856,491 people in California had Medicare. Of these, 171,988 (2.9%) had primary open-angle glaucoma, 8,827 (0.2%) had secondary open-angle glaucoma, and 12,978 (0.2%) had angle closure glaucoma.
Sources
Dr. Dylan Joseph
Florida Eye Center
South Florida Vision
JAMA Network[1]
American Academy of Ophthalmology[1]
American Academy of Ophthalmology[2]
American Academy of Ophthalmology[3]
American Optometric Association
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
JAMA Network[2]
Vision Center
PubMed
Cleveland Clinic[1]
Cleveland Clinic[2]
Cleveland Clinic[3]
Cleveland Clinic[4]
Cleveland Clinic[5]
