Ophthalmologist

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diseases and treatments of the visual system. Ophthalmologists often work closely with optometrists and usually provide diagnosis and treatment for more serious eye diseases and disorders such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataract. Many ophthalmologists specialize in providing laser surgery to correct refractive error; while this procedure used to be prevalent only in the United States and other wealthy nations, it is now starting to become more widely marketed and used around the world.

Ophthalmologists are generally considered to be surgeons because they perform operations on the eye. In order to become an ophthalmologist, a person must complete medical school and go on to additional training in surgery and ophthalmology. In the United States, this training may include an internship or general transitional year along with a residency in ophthalmology which generally lasts four years. Afterward, some ophthalmologists choose to obtain further specialized training through a fellowship dealing with a specific category of ophthalmology classified by disease, anatomical location, or type of surgery. Fellowship subspecialties include but are not limited to the cornea, anterior chamber, retina, glaucoma, and pediatric ophthalmology.

While residency programs dealing with ophthalmology remain very attractive and competitive options for medical school graduates in the United States, there is a severe shortage of ophthalmologists in many underserved areas of the developing world today. For example, in Africa, there is an average of 1 ophthalmologist serving every 1 million people, and an even worse ratio may be expected in rural areas. Increased training of ophthalmologists, especially in the field of cataract surgery, is required in order to best reduce the global burden of eye disease. Overall, much more equitable distribution of qualified ophthalmologists is needed worldwide in order to provide important eye care to those who need it.