General Ophthalmology

 

General ophthalmology is "general practice" of eye medicine. It involves the primary care of all medical eye problems, whether acute (urgent) or longstanding. Examples include:

 

• Poor vision (cataracts, retinal problems, corneal diseases, or simply optical problems requiring glasses)
   

• Eye discomfort (dry eyes, inflammatory eye diseases, allergies)
   

• Eye problems related to other medical conditions (neurological, infectious, and others)
   

• Screening for common eye problems (glaucoma, diabetic eye disease)

 

In some instances, patients present with symptoms which cannot be easily explained . The search for the area in the eye, the brain or other parts of the body causing the symptoms is also the role of general ophthalmologists. This is one of their most challenging and interesting roles. Once the problem is found, it may be handled by the general ophthalmologist, or, in some cases, referred to a sub-specialist in the field (for instance, a neuro-opthalmologist for optic neuritis treatment or an orbital surgeon for treatment of a problem in the orbit, the eye socket)