Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and refractive errors such as nearsightedness and farsightedness. It covers both medical management, such as prescription eyewear and eye drops, and surgical procedures like cataract surgery and retinal repair.

Patients are commonly referred to this branch for symptoms such as blurred or reduced vision, eye pain, seeing floaters or flashes of light, or a gradual change in vision noticed during a routine eye exam. Some eye conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy, develop as a complication of another disease and are monitored closely alongside that condition.

A comprehensive eye exam typically includes tests that measure vision sharpness, eye pressure, and a direct examination of the structures inside the eye, which can also reveal early signs of conditions like glaucoma before vision loss occurs. Because some eye diseases progress gradually and without early symptoms, routine eye exams are generally recommended even when vision seems normal.