See the whole picture. Protect your eye health by:
- Eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables
- Wearing sunglasses and hats when in sunlight
- Limiting your alcohol intake
- Getting regular eye check ups
- Maintaining a healthy weight by exercising regularly
- Quitting smoking , as it has been linked to risk of developing age-related macular degeneration and cataracts
About
EYE SPECIALISTS
There are different types of eye care professionals, or “eye specialists.”
Optometrists
These are healthcare professionals who are concerned with the health of the eyes and have completed a degree in optometry. They focus on vision care, including eye exams and prescribing glasses and contacts. They may also diagnose other eye conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts. In some cases, they can prescribe medications for eye conditions.
Ophthalmologists
These are specialists who have completed medical school and have chosen to specialize in eye care. Like Optometrists, they perform eye exams and can give you options to improve your vision. They can also diagnose and treat all eye conditions mentioned below by performing surgery and prescribing medications. For serious medical eye conditions, you will likely need to see an ophthalmologist.
Opticians
You may also work with an optician on your vision care. Opticians are not eye doctors, but they fill the prescriptions for glasses and contacts that your eye specialist provides you. Opticians can help with selecting and adjusting the lenses you need.
Retinal Eye Specialists
Retinal Eye Specialists are highly-trained eye specialists and surgeons who focus on diseases in the back of the eye. They have completed medical school and specialized training as an ophthalmologist, and then pursued additional vitreoretinal (retina diseases) training. If you have age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or diabetic retinopathy then you will mostly likely see a retina eye specialist. A retina specialist may also treat a patient who has experienced severe eye trauma, and may be consulted in the case of patients dealing with hereditary diseases of the eye.
If you do not already have an eye specialist, you can also discuss concerns about your eye health with your regular healthcare provider. He or she can help you find the right professional to meet your needs. You can also ask your family and friends to suggest an eye specialist – chances are you know someone who has needed eye care recently.