Friday, August 4, 2017

Without An Ophthalmologist Washington DC Patients May Face Blindness

By Jessica Ellis


When asked which sense, if forced, they will give up most people will respond with a wide variety of opinions but never with the loss of sight. People with very poor or even no sight are forced to depend upon others for many otherwise ordinary activities and tasks. Thankfully, many strides have been made in this field of medicine. By consulting an ophthalmologist Washington DC patients can, however, correct many medical problems and see well again.

People often confuse the various professionals that focus on vision. They even think that ophthalmology specialists, optometrists and opticians are all one and the same thing. This is not the case. Opticians are skilled technicians that focus on the design and manufacture of corrective devices such as lenses for spectacles and contact lenses. They do not see patients and they do not perform diagnostic tests.

Optometrists, on the other hand, are not doctors, but they deal directly with patients. They focus on primary vision care. They test the vision of their patients and they treat a variety of problems and can even prescribe medication for certain conditions. They also issue prescriptions for corrective lenses and contact lenses. When they cannot help a patient, they refer them to a specialist.

Ophthalmologists are specialists that are qualified to treat any disease or condition that has to do with vision. They must first qualify as medical doctors. Thereafter, they undergo up to eight years of specialist and practical training. They are licensed to practice both medicine and surgery. They perform operations, prescribe medication and diagnose a wide variety of conditions that affect the vision of their patients.

Many people do not realize how important it is to undergo a regular eye examination. The earlier problems or potential problems are identified, the easier it will be to treat successfully. There are some important signs that should serve as a warning to see a specialist without delay. This include the bulging of one or both eyes, distorted or double vision, an excess of tears and constant redness of the eyes. People with high blood pressure and diabetes should also be careful.

The advances in this field of medicine will take the breath away. Conditions such as glaucoma used to be a certain sentence to blindness but can now be treated successfully. Cataracts no longer pose a great threat and even serious cornea related conditions can be be treated without problem. The success rate enjoyed by ophthalmologists is extremely high. Numerous patients that now enjoy near perfect sight would have been blind just a decade or two ago.

When experiencing symptoms it may be best to first see an optometrist to get an opinion about the nature of the problem. The optometrist will, if necessary, refer the patient to an ophthalmology specialist that focus on the particular condition in question. In some cases it is best to see a generalist specialist that will correctly diagnose the exact condition from which the patient suffers.

Everyone values his sight. Without the ability to see clearly most people will have to forsake most of the activities that provide them with those pleasures that really makes life worth living. It is vital to look after the eyes, to see a professional regularly and to seek help at the very first signs of trouble.




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