The field of ophthalmology deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. The profession of ophthalmology encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of all eye disorders. Ophthalmologists usually perform surgery on the eye or the adnexa of the eye. The responsibility of an ophthalmologist is to choose the correct surgical procedure to treat a patient. A doctor of optometry also examines the eyes for any anomalies or defects. The world of optometry traditionally focused on reducing refractive error through the use of spectacles. Optometry has advanced through time to include significant training within the diagnosis and management of ocular diseases.
-
Cornea
-
Glaucoma
-
Refractive surgery
-
Neuro-ophthalmology
-
Ocular oncology
-
Clinical ophthalmology
-
Oculoplastics
-
Ophthalmic pathology
-
Paediatric ophthalmology/strabismus
The branch of medicine that combines neurology and ophthalmology is called neuro-ophthalmology. Neuro-ophthalmologists diagnose and treat disorders of the nervous system that affect eye movements, alignment, vision, and pupillary reflexes. Neuro-ophthalmologists treat eye diseases.
-
Squint or Strabismus
-
Toxic or Nutritional optic neuropathy
-
Papilledema
-
Optic neuritis
A number of eye diseases and age-related changes affect the eyes and surrounding structures. Approximately 2.2 billion people worldwide suffer from eye diseases and visual impairments. The two most important changes are a reduction in pupil size and a loss of accommodation or focusing ability. It is even possible for sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes and genital warts to cause ocular diseases. According to the World Health Organization, the leading causes of blindness worldwide are:
-
Uncorrected refractive errors
-
Age-related macular degeneration
-
Glaucoma
-
Cataract
-
Trachoma
-
Diabetic retinopathy
-
Corneal opacity
-
Thyroid eye diseases
-
Autoimmune diseases
-
Genetic eye diseases
-
Ocular autoimmune diseases
Every year, nearly 5 lakh children become blind. When compared to adults, children experience a wide variety of eye problems. Children's ophthalmologists work on improving children's vision and treating diseases that interfere with their vision. Conjunctivitis, Strabismus, Amblyopia, Blocked tear ducts, Ptosis, Retinopathy of prematurity, Nystagmus, Visual inattention, Pediatric cataracts, Pediatric glaucoma, Genetic disorders, Orbital tumours, Congenital malformations are among the conditions that pediatric ophthalmologists treat. The Geriatric ophthalmology area focuses on the general and ocular physiological changes that occur with age, clinical approaches in geriatric patients, common geriatric ocular diseases, spectacle dispensing in elderly patients, and pharmacological aspects of ageing. About 82 percent of people over 50 years of age are blind. The blindness of the elderly poses a serious threat to their well being. When left untreated, visual disturbances cause falls, depression, social isolation, and dependency. Examples of ophthalmological problems:
-
Childhood malignancies
-
Conjunctivitis
-
Nystagmus
-
Blepharitis
-
Entropion/Ectropion
-
Pterygium
-
Amblyopia
-
Corneal ulcer or keratitis
-
Corneal degeneration
-
Corneal dystrophy
A veterinary vision practice is an ophthalmology practice that specializes in the care of animals' eyes. Veterinarians provide care for dogs, cats, rabbits, chinchillas, birds, reptiles, horses and other farm animals. Some common conditions include:
Despite its fragility and sensitivity, the eye is a delicate and sensitive organ that functions in its own way to maintain normal vision. Iris, pupil, and anterior chamber are covered by the cornea, which is transparent. A corneal ulceration, epithelial keratitis, drug-induced epithelial keratitis, corneal regeneration, recurrent corneal erosion, and other corneal disorders can disturb the cornea and eventually lead to peripheral eye disease that might lead to permanent blindness. Therefore, corneal disease is evaluated in order to mitigate it, and methods such as contact lenses & vision correction are used to fix vision-related problems. Surgical procedures such as corneal transplantation are used to restore vision. Light is focused on the retina by the cornea and the focal point of the eye. A corneal refraction occurs when light strikes it and it twists or refracts it onto the focal point. When light passes through the focal point, it is interpreted by the retina, which initiates vision. In the retina, light is transformed into electrical driving forces that travel along the optic nerve to the mind, which translates them into pictures.
-
Corneal ulceration
-
Corneal transplantation
-
Corneal anaplastology (prosthesis)
-
Corneal neovascularization
-
Corneal degeneration
A retina is a thin layer of tissue in the back mass of your eye. The retina is a complex network of light-sensitive cells and other nerve cells that acquire and process visual information. Through the optic nerve, the retina sends information to the cerebrum, allowing you to see. Clinical ophthalmology specifies the responsibilities of eye practitioners and it also encompasses the wide spectrum of research and plays a crucial role in screening, diagnosis, and therapeutics to treat eye disorders. The focal zone of the retina is composed of a cluster of highly delicate and highly specialized photoreceptor cells known as cones that are responsible for shading vision. Therefore, any malformation or alteration of the focal zone of the retina will disrupt colour vision. Other conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, retinal tumors, and other eye conditions can similarly result in long-term vision loss if they are not treated at the earliest opportunity. Degeneration of the retina, resulting in a loss of focal vision, is known as age-related macular degeneration. It is known that there are some retinal diseases that cause inherent, static hemeralopia and diffuse yellow or blurry shades of the fundus. After two or three hours of all-out cloudiness, the fundus returns to its usual shade.
-
Retinal vasculitis
-
Retinal tumors
-
Retinal transplant
-
Retinal detachment
-
Retinopathy of prematurity ophthalmologic approach
-
Retina and retinal Surgery
Glaucoma is a condition in which the optic nerve is damaged due to an increase in intraocular pressure. Glaucoma occurs when there is insufficient trabecular outflow of aqueous humor, thus increasing the intraocular pressure in the eye. There are two types of glaucoma: primary open-angle glaucoma (no proper drainage of fluids from the eye) and angle-closure glaucoma (iris very close to drainage angle). There are several types of glaucoma surgery:
-
Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty (ALT)
-
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)
-
Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (LPI)
-
Cyclophotocoagulation
-
Trabeculectomy
-
Drainage implant surgery and Electrocautery
Color blindness is the inability to see shade, but is not a type of blindness by any means. Those with this problem have difficulty recognizing certain shades, such as blue and yellow or red and green. A visual impairment, or a lack of shading vision, is an acquired condition that affects males 8 times more than females. Red-green shading absence is the most common type of visual impairment. Insignificantly more often than not, a man may develop a weakness that prevents him from seeing blue and yellow shades. The inadequacy of the blue-yellow shading impacts men and women alike. Nyctalopia is another name for night blindness, which is a type of vision impairment. Those with night blindness find themselves unable to see well at night or in dimly lit environments. In spite of the fact that the expression "night blindness" implies that you cannot see at night, this is not the case. Night blindness is experienced by people who are unable to see or drive at night. Nightblindness can be treated in some cases, but in others it is not. To determine the underlying cause, a specialist should be consulted.
Males between the ages of 60 and 65 are most likely to develop malignant melanoma. Melanoma is caused by uncontrolled growth of cells called melanocytes. Ocular oncology is an extremely specialized field of ophthalmology. In ocular oncology, general oncologists, pediatric oncologists, specialist nurses, clinical scientists, and many others are involved. Those most frequently observed malignancies are uveal and conjunctivitis melanoma, uveal metastasis, intraocular, conjunctiva carcinoma, and conjunctiva lymphoA diagnosis is made by biomicroscopy, angiography, optical coherence tomography, ultrasonography, and autofluorescence imaging. Naive, chordal haemangiomas are the most common type of tumor. Treatment and/or observation are usually required for these lesions. The treatment of eyelid and orbital tumors is available from oculoplastic and orbital specialists.
-
Anisocoria
-
Lagophthalmos
-
Night blindness
-
Uveitis
-
Macular degeneration
-
Heterochromia iridis
-
Hyphema
-
Aniridia
-
Iridodialysis
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) develops when high pressure around the brain causes vision changes, headaches, optic atrophy, and eventually blindness. The cause of this hypertension is unknown. When the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord builds up in the skull, IIH occurs. This causes extra pressure on the brain and damages the optic nerve. This is a rare disorder that is generally found in children and obese pregnant women. The symptoms closely match those of a brain tumor, which is why it is called pseudotumor cerebri (false brain tumor).
-
Ocular motility disturbances
-
Degree of papilledema
-
Olfactory dysfunction in patients with IIH
-
Eyestrain
Researchers have found Corona virus RNA in tears of infected patients and research indicates that the ocular surface may serve as a portal for virus entry and act as a reservoir for viral transmission. Ocular surface manifestations were reported by a small number of COVID-19 patients. According to reports, SARS-CoV-2 most frequently manifested in the eyes as follows:
-
Follicular conjunctivitis
-
Ocular pain
-
Redness
-
Discharge
Diet plays an important role in eye health, protecting eyes from harmful light, and preventing age-related degenerative diseases. As a result, cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma can be prevented. According to research, antioxidants in foods may reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. Various antioxidants are used to treat different conditions, like vitamin A for blindness, vitamin C for glaucoma, omega-3 essential fatty acids for alleviating symptoms of dry eye syndrome and protecting against macular degeneration. A Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is the normal level of daily intake of a nutrient sufficient to meet the needs of the body.
-
Beta–carotene
-
Bioflavonoids (Flavonoids)
-
Lutein and Zeaxanthin
-
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
-
Selenium
-
Vitamin A, C, D, E
-
Zinc
The eye is operated on by an ophthalmologist to treat an ailment or disorder. Ophthalmic surgery is also known as ocular surgery. There are many types of eye surgeries, including corrective surgery-done in order to correct or treat a disorder. An intraocular lens is adjusted during phacoemulsification surgery. Glaucoma surgery is performed to reduce the excess intraocular pressure. Specifically, orbital surgery concerns the eyelids, orbits, and lacrimal system.
-
Orbital decompression Surgery
-
Tear duct Surgery
-
Refractive Surgery
-
Vision Correction Surgery
-
Retinal Replacement Surgery
-
Retinal Detachment Surgery
-
Cataract Surgery
-
Plastic Surgery
-
Glaucoma Surgery
-
Strabismus Surgery
-
Oculoplastic Surgery
-
Diabetic Retinopathy Surgery
The field of biomedical research is useful to categorize ways of preventing and treating diseases that cause illness and death in animals and humans. Biomedical researchers use biotechnological techniques to study biological processes and diseases to prevent and treat diseases. For the development of new medicines and therapies, careful scientific experimentation, development, and evaluation are required. Biomedical research includes:
-
Study of specific diseases and conditions
-
Design of methods, drugs and devices used to diagnose diseases.
-
To support and maintain the individual during and after treatment for specific diseases or conditions.
Approximately 25% of the population is affected by allergic conjunctivitis. An allergic conjunctivitis is an inflammatory ocular condition caused by exposure to allergens, bacteria, and viruses. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, a tissue that keeps the eyelid and eyeball moist. An overreactive immune system causes allergic symptoms by activating mast cells and, in turn, releasing histamine. These include seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, perennial allergic conjunctivitis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, contact hypersensitivity reactions, giant papillary conjunctivitis, and atopic keratoconjunctivitis. Surgical intervention may be necessary in severe allergic conjunctivitis cases. Allergic conjunctivitis can be treated with the following medications:
-
Topical antihistamines
-
Mast cell stabilizers
-
Non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
-
Corticosteroids
Anatomy and physiology of the eye protect it from damage. It therefore minimizes the transport of medication by traditional dosage forms to the eye, and the therapeutic concentration of drugs may not be maintained for long periods of time. Ocular drug delivery systems allowed for long-term treatment of ocular infections by delivering medication directly to the anterior segment of the eye. For the treatment of chronic vitreoretinal diseases, different biodegradable or non-biodegradable polymer implants have been widely investigated. Developing ocular drug delivery systems that provide controlled release of medication can reduce the dosing frequency for chronic diseases.
-
Liposomes
-
Niosomes
-
Nanoparticles
-
Iontophorosis
-
Corneal shields
-
Inserts
-
Drug embedded contact lenses
-
In-situ gel
-
Ocular wafers and films
Ophthalmologists perform eye or ocular surgeries on the eye. As early as 1800 BC, several ancient texts mention eye surgery. Cataract treatment began in the 5th century. Today, a variety of advanced eye surgery procedures are available for treating eye problems. A laser eye surgery is also known as a vision correction surgery which is generally performed to correct vision problems. The most common eye surgery involves reshaping the cornea. A vision correcting surgical procedure corrects far-sighted (hyperopia) or near-sighted (myopia) or astigmatic vision. There are many refractive surgeries, such as:
-
LASIK
-
SMILE
-
Surface Laser Treatments (PRK, LASEK and TransPRK)
Diagnostic and therapeutic equipment aids in diagnosing and treating diseases. Ophthalmic instruments prevent damage to the eye and injuries to the eye. Today, optometrists use innovative techniques to deliver the best quality service and satisfy their patients.
-
Tonometer and Types
-
Phoropter
-
Ophthalmoscope
-
Ophthalmic Refraction Unit
-
Keratometer
-
A-Scan Biometer
As we go about our daily lives, we are constantly surrounded by multiple digital devices and screens, including cell phones, tablets, computers, and television screens. It would seem that we should avoid watching something that literally surrounds us on a regular basis. According to some studies, people use technology for more than half their day, while others claim that their technology usage consumes 10-12 hours per day. As a result of the constant use of devices and screens throughout the day, technology can harm the eyes in a number of ways, including:
-
Headaches and Migraines
-
Computer Vision Syndrome
-
Retina Damage
-
Less Blinking
-
Closer Focus
-
Uncomfortable Angles
It is almost impossible for people not to use technology in some way or another in this 21st century. Throughout human history, humans have developed new and improved technologies and automated processes to make a tedious process easy, safe, accurate, quick, and simple. Robot-assisted eye surgeries is one such example. As well as treating cataracts, glaucoma, detached retinas, retinal tears, diabetic retinopathy, and nearsightedness or farsightedness, eye surgeries address a number of other disorders. An intricate and very small sensory system such as the human eye requires very precise motion of surgical tools during surgery. Robotics technology allows surgeons to perform a surgery more accurately and with less blood loss in less time. Robots have been playing a crucial role in helping surgeons perform eye surgeries, particularly cataract surgeries. Here are some examples of robotic technology in use:
-
Da- Vinci robotic system
-
Intraocular Robotic Interventional Surgical System (IRISS)
-
The Johns Hopkins Steady-Hand Eye Robot
