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Role of an Ophthalmologist: Responsibilities, Areas
of Expertise, and Conditions they Treat

2. Ophthalmologist are medical professionals who specializes in vision
and eye care. Although a person cannot practise ophthalmology right
after completing the MBBS, he or she can practise as a general
physician, assist an ophthalmologist, or choose to be a part of Path
Labs, where eye-related tests are conducted. The individual can also be
a part of a business that manufactures spectacles or other eye aids. To
become an ophthalmologist, a student has to complete the entire
duration of MBBS, which also includes the compulsory year of
internship, and then obtain a post-graduation degree in
Ophthalmology. PG Ophthalmology also happens to be one of the
most sought-after medical specialisations in India. The student can also
pursue higher studies after post- graduation.

3. Areas of expertise for an ophthalmologist after they complete
the Ophthalmology MD Course are:
Catering to eye-health in a non-surgical way— This task is
performed by both optometrists and ophthalmologist.
Optometrists carefully examine the present condition of the eye,
run vision tests, prescribe corrective eyeglasses, and administer
medication whenever required.
They single handedly conduct the diagnosis and prognosis of
eye-related diseases and disorders, without any surgical invasion.
They also have the skills to use specialized equipment for diagnosis

4. and treatment of the eye.
Apart from prescribing glasses, there are lot other eye related
diseases and disorders to be examined and treated by the
ophthalmologist.

5. Performing surgeries of the eye: An ophthalmologist’s areas of
expertise are broad. Extensive knowledge of the eye helps an
ophthalmologist perform eye surgeries. They have all the necessary
skills to offer specialized eye care. For advanced knowledge on holistic
vision care, a few ophthalmologists also opt for higher studies and
research, certification programmes, for example, a super specialty
degree. Some of the well-known areas of super specialty are-
treatment of glaucoma, damage to the retina, corneal function,
paediatrics, plastic surgery and reconstructive surgery of the eye,
ocular oncology, and ocular neurology. Eye disease treatment
options for these diseases may differ depending on the extent and
nature of the disease.

6. • Given below are the core ophthalmologist responsibilities -
• An ophthalmologist must have the skills to examine the patient's condition
at length, understand and record the patient's medical history, and make
an accurate diagnosis.
• An ophthalmologist must know how to manage a wide range of ophthalmic
conditions. At this junction, it must be noted that, diseases and disorders
of the eye affect both the physical and psychological aspects of a patient.
Hence, an ophthalmologist should be able to handle both.
• An ophthalmologist must master time management, ensuring that the
patients admitted to the hospital or clinic are not neglected while the
ophthalmologist is busy managing general outpatient clinics.
• An ophthalmologist also must team up with specialists from other
departments. A few search departments that often require the
collaboration of an ophthalmologist are neurology, ENT, paediatrics,
genetics, etc. The ophthalmologist can also contribute to forming a
multidisciplinary course of treatment, if that is what the patient needs.

7. • Take occasional rounds of the ward if the ophthalmologist is
associated with a healthcare service provider, for example, a hospital.
• An ophthalmologist should have the prowess to use specialised
equipment for eye care. The individual should regularly update
himself or herself about the latest technologies in ophthalmology.
• An ophthalmologist should be able to perform every kind of eye
surgery, even the more complex ones. Skills for modern procedures
like microscopic laser surgery, keyhole minimally invasive surgeries
should be obtained.
• An ophthalmologist should be able to process documentation and
certification, enable patients to understand their medical condition,
support health promotion drives, and participate in activities related
to disease prevention.

8. • Some of the ophthalmology conditions required to be treated with
specialized care are:
•
• Cataract
• Glaucoma
• Retinal detachment
• Macular degeneration related to age
• Amblyopia (lazy eye)
• Astigmatism

9. • Corneal disease
• Retinopathy related to diabetes
• Far- sightedness (Hyperopia)
• Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)

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