The structure, functioning and diseases or ailments affecting the eye are studied and treated by a particular branch of medicine: ophthalmology.
What does the ophthalmologist do?
The ophthalmologist is a specialist who has the task of preventing, diagnosing and treating the ailments and problems that may occur in the eye, to visit the patient, prescribes further necessary examinations and uses the data he has collected in this way to prescribes the best therapy, which can be medical or surgical
What are the pathologies treated by the ophthalmologist?
The ophthalmologist most frequently treats one or more of the pathologies and ailments listed below:
- l ‘ amblyopia
- l ‘ astigmatism
- the cataracts
- the keratoconus
- the conjunctivitis
- central serous chorioretinopathy
- age-related macular degeneration
- diplopia
- the retinal detachment
- the detachment of vitreous
- subconjunctival hemorrhages
- epiphora
- the glaucoma
- hyperopia
- floaters
- the myopia
- optic neuritis
- venous occlusions
- the pinguecula
- pterygium
- arteriosclerotic retinopathy
- the diabetic retinopathy
- hypertensive retinopathy
- I squint
- uveitis
- the vices of refraction
What are the procedures most used by the ophthalmologist?
The ophthalmologist carries out the anamnesis by means of an eye examination, in which he takes information on the general state of health of the patient, and visits the eyes. The visit focuses on the alignment of the eyes, their motility, the state of the eyelids and their motility, any signs of diseases of the orbit or of the tear apparatus and the pupils.
The most frequently used procedures to diagnose a visual disturbance , or to check its condition are the following:
- analysis of the fundus
- the Autorefractometry
- biomicroscopy
- endothelial count
- the examination of visual acuity
- retinal fluorangiography
- corneal pachymetry
- the FDT perimetry
- corneal tomography
- computerized optical tomography (OCT)
- tonometry
- corneal topography
What treatments are prescribed by the ophthalmologist?
The corrective procedures normally used by ophthalmologists include:
- refractive laser surgery
- Corneal Cross-Linking (CXL)
- intravitreal injection of drugs for retinal diseases
- the intervention for strabismus
- corneal transplants
- surgical treatment of cataracts
- vitrectomy
- the minimally invasive vitrectomy
- trabeculectomy
When to ask for an appointment with the ophthalmologist?
Even when it seems that you have no vision problems, the appointment with the ophthalmologist should be a regular appointment, to be booked at least once every two years. Clearly, it is also possible to go to the ophthalmologist more frequently, if there is a predisposition in the family to ocular pathologies, the presence of problems such as systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and rheumatic diseases, the possible intake of drugs that can affect eye health. . In addition to this, it is necessary to go to the ophthalmologist when eye problems and a reduction in visual abilities occur. Children should undergo an eye examination within 3 years, one within 6 years, and one visit per year or every two years until they reach the age of 14.
