Some of the conditions our ophthalmologists diagnose and treat include:

• Cataracts.
• Cornea and external eye diseases, including blepharitis.
• Dry eyes.
• Glaucoma.
• Injuries and trauma.
• Keratoconus.
• Pediatric ophthalmology, including adult strabismus, amblyopia, esotropia (crossed eyes), and exotropia.

The leading causes of blindness and low vision in the United States are primarily age-related eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. Other common eye disorders include amblyopia and strabismus.

Call your doctor if you experience any of the following:

• Change in iris color
• Crossed eyes
• Dark spot in the center of your field of vision
• Difficulty focusing on near or distant objects
• Double vision
• Dry eyes with itching or burning
• Episodes of cloudy vision
• Excess discharge or tearing
• Eye pain
• Floaters or flashers
• Growing bump on the eyelid
• Halos (colored circles around lights) or glare
• Hazy or blurred vision
• Inability to close an eyelid
• Loss of peripheral vision
• Redness around the eye
• Spots in your field of vision
• Sudden loss of vision
• Trouble adjusting to dark rooms
• Unusual sensitivity to light or glare
• Veil obstructing vision
• Wavy or crooked appearance to straight lines

An ophthalmologist — Eye M.D. — is a medical or osteopathic doctor who specializes in eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists differ from optometrists and opticians in their levels of training and in what they can diagnose and treat. As a medical doctor who has completed college and at least eight years of additional medical training, an ophthalmologist is licensed to practice medicine and surgery. An ophthalmologist diagnoses and treats all eye diseases, performs eye surgery and prescribes and fits eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct vision problems. Many ophthalmologists are also involved in scientific research on the causes and cures for eye diseases and vision disorders.
SUBSPECIALISTS: ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND TRAINING FOR SPECIFIC EYE NEEDS
While ophthalmologists are trained to care for all eye problems and conditions, some Eye M.D.s specialize in a specific area of medical or surgical eye care. This person is called a subspecialist. He or she usually completes one or two years of additional, more in-depth training called a fellowship in one of the main subspecialty areas such as glaucoma, retina, cornea, pediatrics, neurology and plastic surgery, as well as others. This added training and knowledge prepares an ophthalmologist take care of more complex or specific conditions in certain areas of the eye or in certain groups of patients.

All healthy adults should see an ophthalmologist for a comprehensive eye exam at the age of 40. But here are a few other reasons you may need to see an ophthalmologist:

• If you think you have an eye infection
• After an acute eye injury
• If you notice a change in vision, or sudden blurriness
• If you experience new floaters or flashes in your vision
• If you experience double vision
• If you have a sudden loss of vision
• If you’ve developed diabetes, hypertension, and other systemic problems
• If advised by general health practitioner (GP) or are referred by an optometrist