What is the name of an eye doctor? Types of eye doctors Eye doctor.

In the previous century, when a person had vision problems or inflamed eyes, he knew that an eye doctor would provide help. He was also called an ophthalmologist. Today this term is somewhat old-fashioned, but exists on an equal footing with the name ophthalmologist.

It is not so important what the name of the eye doctor in your region is, both terms mean the same thing.

The root oculus is Latin for "eye", as is ophthalmos in Greek. So a doctor who treats eyes is correctly called an ophthalmologist or, in other words, an ophthalmologist.

Some people believe that these are medical workers with different qualifications, but this is not true. In any case, specialists in this profession have a higher medical education within the specialty “General Medicine”, and pediatricians also have a specialization in “Pediatric Ophthalmology”.

A pediatric ophthalmologist, by analogy with a pediatrician, is more familiar with the characteristics of the visual apparatus of children, which is not yet sufficiently formed and has signs that are considered a pathology in adults.

An eye doctor can organize ophthalmological care because he is familiar with topographic and clinical anatomy, embryology, physiology of the visual analyzer, etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical symptoms of diseases of the visual organs.

He prescribes and monitors the course of pharmacotherapy, adverse reactions and drug compatibility.

A specialist can also provide emergency and emergency ophthalmological care for ophthalmological diseases and eye injuries.

Warning symptoms

When should you contact an ophthalmologist?

  • You notice loss or decreased vision in one or both eyes.
  • Changes in vision appeared in the form of spots, flashes of light, lightning, blurred vision, distortion of the picture, halos around lights, double image.
  • Color perception is impaired.
  • Changes in the visual field, such as shadows, scotomas, black spots, or blur in central or peripheral (side) vision.
  • Noticeable physical changes appeared - squint, exophthalmos (protrusion) or sunken eyeballs, decreased eye size, drooping eyelids.
  • Disturbances in the extraocular muscles are of concern - the eye twitches, difficulty or pain occurs when rotating, moving the eyeballs up and down, from side to side.
  • There are noticeable signs of an inflammatory process, which may be accompanied by the formation of pus or be of an allergic nature - redness of the conjunctiva, swelling of the eyelids and membranes of the eye, bags under the eyes, increased lacrimation. At the same time, the eye hurts, there is itching and burning.

Inflammatory diseases are also treated by an “eye doctor”

If the visual system is in normal condition, consultation with an ophthalmologist is necessary at the following intervals:

  • 19–40 years old – at least once every 10 years;
  • 41–55 years old – at least once every 5 years;
  • 56–65 – at least once every 3 years;
  • Over the age of 65 – at least once every 2 years.

An eye specialist must participate in regular examinations of conscripts, pregnant women, as well as persons with chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system, diabetes, thyroid, rheumatological diseases, and lupus. In addition to checking visual functions, the ophthalmologist can judge the condition of the retina, its vessels, and the optic nerve head from the fundus picture. This information helps to establish the severity of changes in the body against the background of the underlying disease.


An ophthalmologist treats patients with chronic eye diseases

An eye doctor regularly monitors the degree of vision preservation in patients with glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and retinal detachment.

It is necessary to contact him in case of mechanical injury to the eyeball, orbital area, or any blows to the head and facial part of the skull. Bruises under the eyes that occur in such cases suggest possible hemorrhages in the eyeball, hemorrhages and retinal detachment, and damage to the optic nerves. An eye doctor can confirm or refute these assumptions, and he can also refer the patient to the eye microsurgery department.


Eye injury is a reason to consult an ophthalmologist

An ophthalmologist can help if you experience eye burns from welding or exposure to aggressive chemicals.

An ophthalmologist traditionally determines visual acuity or refractive error and selects optical devices - glasses or contact lenses.

Today, in some countries this area has been identified as a separate field of ophthalmology. What is the correct name for a specialist who tests vision and prescribes treatment with glasses and contacts? This doctor is called an optometrist.

As you can see, you can contact an ophthalmologist both in case of chronic diseases, emergencies, and for a routine preventive examination. The knowledge and qualifications of this specialist allow us to provide assistance with various eye diseases.

There are various eye diseases for which you need to see a doctor. An eye doctor is a specialist in a distinct field of medicine called ophthalmology, from the Greek words ophthalmos and logos, which means the study of the eyes. Ophthalmology is a science that studies diseases of the visual organs and develops methods for their treatment and prevention. In addition, this branch of medicine deals with issues such as the physiology and anatomy of this area.

When should you see a specialist?

The first examination by an eye doctor occurs almost immediately after birth. Then, throughout your life, you should see your doctor annually for an eye exam. Regular visits to the doctor help identify serious diseases that can develop asymptomatically. A person often does not even know about them and seeks help in the later stages, when the disease is difficult to treat.

It is important to visit a specialist for people who sit at the computer for a long time, have high blood sugar and suffer from high blood pressure. There are also certain groups of people for whom consultation with a doctor is necessary more often. These include:

  • people using corrective optics;
  • women planning pregnancy or pregnant;
  • elderly or mature people - after 45 years;
  • women who use hormonal medications for a long time;
  • children at different stages of their growing up, especially elementary school students.

Indications for examination


Failure to see a doctor in a timely manner can provoke irreversible processes in the organ of vision.

There are situations when it is necessary for a specialist to examine the organs of vision as quickly as possible. These are the following cases:

  • rapid deterioration of vision;
  • pain in the eyeball area;
  • entry of a foreign body into the eye socket;
  • the appearance of “fog” before the eyes;
  • severe lacrimation from the eye;
  • neoplasms in the eyeball;
  • increased fear of natural and artificial lighting;
  • irritation of the mucous membrane of the eye area;
  • loss of clear contours of objects to which the gaze is directed;
  • feeling of pressure in the eye area.

It is necessary for the doctor to conduct an examination and prescribe treatment for the following pathological conditions:

  • blindness;
  • glaucoma;
  • cataract;
  • retinal detachment;
  • myopia;
  • astigmatism;
  • farsightedness;
  • myopia;
  • barley;
  • thorn;
  • keratitis;
  • blepharitis, etc.

Who is the specialist?

If there are preconditions for the disease, it is recommended to visit an ophthalmologist every six months.

Vision plays one of the most important roles for understanding the world around us and ourselves. About 90% of the information that a person receives is stored in his memory thanks to his eyes. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly ensure that their condition and functioning are normal. To do this, you should regularly visit your doctor for a preventive examination.

A doctor who examines and treats vision is called an ophthalmologist or ophthalmologist. Both of these names are correct definitions. The task of each of these doctors is to conduct qualified diagnostics and prescribe the correct treatment for pathologies of the visual organs. Children's vision is checked and diseases treated by a pediatrician; upon reaching adulthood, by an adult.

What does a doctor do?

At the doctor's appointment, an initial examination takes place. Its stages:

  • visual acuity is determined;
  • intraocular pressure is measured;
  • the fundus is examined;
  • visual coordination is analyzed;
  • The internal and external surface of the eye area is examined.

Diagnostics


Modern computer diagnostics makes it possible to identify any pathology at an early stage.

Primary diagnosis includes the following methods:

  • Checking visual acuity using special tables - Orlova, Golovin, Sivtsev.
  • Study of ocular refraction using methods such as refractometry and optical lenses.

When checking vision using tables, there are certain standards. If at a distance of 5 m a person can clearly see the tenth (bottom) line, and he sees the remaining lines well, visual acuity is 10% (0.1). The fewer lines he sees, the worse his vision. First, the doctor conducts an examination on the right eye socket, then on the left. If necessary, he may ask the patient to wear a special frame into which lenses with varying degrees of magnification are inserted. This is done to find the optimal vision correction option.

If a person sees poorly and has eye pathologies, the doctor may prescribe additional examinations. Common ophthalmological diagnostic methods are described in the table:

For vision pathologies, as a rule, the doctor prescribes the wearing of glasses or contacts.

Eye health problems require searching for an experienced doctor. Subspecialists are engaged in this area of ​​medicine. To find one, it is important to find out what the vision doctor is called. An entire branch of science is devoted to this area - ophthalmology, which studies the anatomy and physiology of the eye.

Oculist or ophthalmologist – which doctor should I make an appointment with?

There is a common misconception that an ophthalmologist is a doctor who sees patients in a clinic and is more involved in diagnosing health problems, and also recommends preventive measures to maintain visual acuity. These same people are sure that an ophthalmologist is a different doctor who sees in a hospital, performs complex manipulations, performs operations, and prescribes serious treatment. This opinion is wrong.

The doctor who tests your vision is both an optometrist and an ophthalmologist. Even in translation, both words will be translated only as “eye”. Only “oculus” is a Latin word, and “ophthalmos” is Greek. Both names give names to professions, but such doctors do one thing - eliminate eye diseases.

Just a couple of decades ago, Soviet clinics consisted mostly of oculists. But many years ago this should have been abolished, and all specialists were transferred to a new one - ophthalmologist. Oculist is more of a popular name, which is pronounced by many in the old fashioned way.

When should you make an appointment with an ophthalmologist?

This is a vision doctor who sees both in clinics assigned to certain areas and in hospitals - in hospitals. Specialists help people diagnose the problem and find a way to get rid of the disease. Once you find out which doctor checks your vision, you can safely make an appointment with someone who:

  1. Wears glasses or uses lenses to correct vision. Periodic examinations, like other doctors, are recommended on a regular basis.
  2. Can't see well or feels like he's losing his sight. Often prescribed glasses or suggested lenses do not solve the problem of visual acuity, which can sharply or gradually decrease.
  3. Suffered eye injuries, which require immediate examination by a doctor.
  4. Due to the nature of his service, studies, and scientific activities, he spends a long time behind a computer screen.
  5. Has a genetic predisposition to developing certain eye diseases.
  6. More hypertension or has problems with blood vessels, hormonal levels, diabetes, etc.
  7. Reached the age of 45 years.
  8. He previously underwent eye surgery, and therefore any condition requires monitoring by a doctor.
  9. Has inflammatory processes in the organ of vision - they are indicated by itching, burning, pain, pain, redness, purulent discharge, etc.
  10. Complains of poor vision - this could be a different disease. Among the most common are myopia (nearsightedness), farsightedness, astigmatism, glaucoma, cataracts, strabismus, etc.

Both children and adults should visit a doctor. The former are at risk of losing visual acuity due to the fact that they spend a lot of time reading books, studying, and playing with gadgets. The frequency of examination is determined by the doctor, but as a preventative measure it is recommended to visit an ophthalmologist at least once a year.

What diagnostic tests does a doctor perform when checking your vision?

In the office of an ophthalmologist (old - ophthalmologist), the doctor conducts a visual examination of the patient, studies the medical history, if any, and also asks questions to the patient. Only after this can equipment and various techniques be used to test visual acuity. Among the methods used by an ophthalmologist to diagnose his patient:

Ophthalmoscopy - the doctor will use special instruments to examine the fundus of the eye. This method allows you to assess the condition of the vascular network, optic nerve and retina.

This method is good for diagnosing the cause of vision impairment. An experienced vision examiner will be able to make an accurate diagnosis, which may be hypertension or diabetes.

  • Tonometry. A special instrument is used to check eye pressure.
  • Skiascopy. This is a process that in practice can be called “shadow testing”. It involves studying the characteristics of light refraction in the eye in a dark place.
  • Biomicroscopy. This technique is often used by ophthalmologists in their practice. It does not cause any inconvenience to the patient, but involves examining the anterior segment of the eye under a microscope - a special magnifying glass and a slit lamp.
  • Visometry is a procedure that absolutely all patients who see an ophthalmologist undergo. The technique involves testing visual acuity.
  • Iridology. This is a fairly rare technique, but it is also sometimes used by ophthalmologists. They check for pathological changes in the iris of the eye.

To check visual acuity, a tabular section is used, which has 12 lines. The first ten should ideally be considered by people with 100% vision. The bottom two can be seen by people with farsightedness or acute vision. Depending on which row in the table is visible to a person, the disease or its absence will be determined. It may also be that the eyes see differently, and therefore each one will be checked separately.

Which doctor checks children's eyes?

This is also an ophthalmologist, he works at a children's clinic. An examination by a pediatric ophthalmologist is a mandatory procedure.

It is known that the visual organ of a child develops until the age of 14. Even those children who had absolute vision in the elementary grades may lose visual acuity in middle or high school. That is why an examination by an ophthalmologist is just as important as a pediatrician.

Which doctor should pregnant women consult with eye problems?

A pregnant woman’s by-pass sheet requires a note from an ophthalmologist, and therefore problems should be addressed to this doctor. They can occur against the background of a hormonal surge. Some women in an interesting position may have problems with the retina, which is a direct indication for a cesarean section.

Ophthalmological Dictionary of Russian synonyms. eye adj. ophthalmologist ophthalmologist eye doctor eye doctor specialist in eye diseases) Dictionary of Russian synonyms ... Synonym dictionary

OCULAR, ophthalmic, ophthalmic. adj. to the eye in 1 value. Eye diseases. Eyeball. Eye doctor. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

Aya, oh. to Eye (1 digit). G. nerve. G diseases. Gaya cavity (= eye socket). The fundus (the part of the inner surface of the eyeball visible during ophthalmoscopy). The apple (the eye itself without muscles, lacrimal glands, etc.). G teeth (upper fangs... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

ocular- p/o, o/e. a) to the eye 1) Ophthalmic nerve. G diseases. The socket (= eye socket) The fundus (the part of the inner surface of the eyeball visible during ophthalmoscopy) The globe (the eye itself without muscles, lacrimal glands, etc.) ... Dictionary of many expressions

Eye doctor, b. 1763 in Vienna, in 1812 he received a specially created department of eye diseases at the University of Vienna, along with a clinical department. At the beginning of the current table. he was one of the most famous ophthalmologists in Germany... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

I Medicine Medicine is a system of scientific knowledge and practical activities, the goals of which are to strengthen and preserve health, prolong the life of people, prevent and treat human diseases. To accomplish these tasks, M. studies the structure and... ... Medical encyclopedia

Doctor, ophthalmologist, eye doctor, ophthalmologist Dictionary of Russian synonyms. ophthalmologist see eye doctor Dictionary of synonyms of the Russian language. Practical guide. M.: Russian language. Z. E. Alexandrova ... Synonym dictionary

Ophthalmologist, ophthalmologist, eye doctor Dictionary of Russian synonyms. ophthalmologist see eye doctor Dictionary of synonyms of the Russian language. Practical guide. M.: Russian language. Z. E. Alexandrova ... Synonym dictionary

Eye doctor, ophthalmologist, eye doctor Dictionary of Russian synonyms. ophthalmologist see eye doctor Dictionary of synonyms of the Russian language. Practical guide. M.: Russian language. Z. E. Alexandrova ... Synonym dictionary

- (French oculiste, from Latin oculus eye). Eye doctor. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910. OCULIST, doctor of eye diseases. A complete dictionary of foreign words that have come into use in the Russian language. Popov M... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

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A vision specialist is called an ophthalmologist. This word comes from the Greek "oftalmos" - eye and "logos" - science.

In our country, an eye specialist is usually called an ophthalmologist. This is also the correct name. Although most people think that an ophthalmologist is a doctor who deals with patients in a clinic, and an ophthalmologist in a hospital. Or an ophthalmologist is a specialist who treats with conservative methods, and an ophthalmologist resorts to surgical intervention. "Ophthalmologist" and "ophthalmologist" are synonymous. It's just that "ophthalmologist" comes from Latin, not Greek, and means "eye."

An ophthalmologist or ophthalmologist treats diseases that destroy the structure of the eye or cause problems in its functionality. He also carries out diagnostic measures to identify pathologies and suggests how to prevent certain ailments.

Getting to know a doctor through the eyes occurs already in the first days after a person is born. Next, you need to see an ophthalmologist (ophthalmologist) every year to have your vision checked. Regular visits help identify serious diseases that may be asymptomatic. The patient may not even be aware of them. As a result, treatment begins in the later stages, when it is already difficult to correct anything.

In order to check your vision or treat various eye ailments (for example, such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and others), you need to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist at the clinic at your place of residence. You can also easily undergo a medical examination at any specialized ophthalmology clinic. In addition, ophthalmologist services are provided by large optical stores.

If you suspect inflammatory processes and serious diseases such as conjunctivitis, glaucoma, retinal detachment, cataracts and others, in such cases you need the help of an ophthalmologist. A specialist specialist will carry out all diagnostic measures and, if necessary, prescribe and carry out surgical intervention. He also monitors the patient during the postoperative period.

If surgery is performed using laser beams, then the eye doctor is called a laser ophthalmologist or laser ophthalmologist.

Who needs an examination by an ophthalmologist (ophthalmologist)

As mentioned earlier, regardless of gender, age, or presence of diseases, every person needs to undergo an annual ophthalmological examination. But there is a certain group of people who need advice from a highly qualified specialist more often. Such persons include:

  • People who wear corrective lenses;
  • Pregnant women;
  • Women who are just planning a pregnancy;
  • People who spend most of their time in front of a computer monitor;
  • Patients with high blood sugar;
  • Patients who have undergone eye surgery and are undergoing a rehabilitation period;
  • Patients who have high blood pressure;
  • Women who have used hormonal medications for a long period of time;
  • Persons of mature or elderly age after forty-five years;
  • Children at different stages of their growing up. Especially first graders.

If your child sits at the computer a lot, take him to an ophthalmologist

In what cases is it necessary to visit an ophthalmologist (ophthalmologist)

There are situations when you need to consult an ophthalmologist immediately. Even though you have only recently undergone a routine examination at a medical facility. Such cases include:

  • A sharp decline in vision;
  • Pain syndrome in the eyeball;
  • Penetration of a foreign body into the eyes;
  • Severe fear of light;
  • When the objects to which the gaze is directed lose their clear contours;
  • The appearance of “fog” in the eyes;
  • Severe lacrimation, irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyeball;
  • Formation of neoplasms of various types on the eye;
  • Feeling of pressure in the eye socket.
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