What is general ophthalmology?
General ophthalmology is a division of eye care that involves performing regular ocular exams and evaluating the need for surgery. We all have problems with our vision at some point in time. Unfortunately, statistics indicate that only half the population undergo regular eye screenings; this is extremely disappointing because optimal eye health is vital when performing well in the workplace, engaging with others and carrying out routine tasks.
When do you need to see an eye doctor?
If you see Eye health as a priority, then undergoing regular ocular screening is crucial to prevent retinal diseases such as macular degeneration and irreversible blindness from a condition such as glaucoma.
The following symptoms require immediate medical care and are not to be ignored:
- Loss of eyesight can occur in one or both eyes. Sudden vision loss may be an indication of poor blood circulation in the retina (retinal vein occlusion) or detachment of the retina (retinal detachment), which occurs when the retina moves away from the back of the eye.
- Variations in vision include seeing halos, light flashes, streaks of light, spots (floaters) and experiencing blurry or double vision. Colour vision changes could be a result of numerous neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, as well as medical conditions like diabetes, leukaemia and sickle cell anaemia.
- Visible changes to the eye(s) include inflammation, redness, discharge, bulging eyes, drooping eyelid, eyelid growths or strabismus, known as crossed eyes.
General ophthalmologic practices also assess these types of eye conditions:
- Myopia (nearsightedness) is a condition whereby objects or people are better seen close up than far away. Eye curvature/shape is a determining factor that contributes to myopia effects. Myopia causes light to refract incorrectly, focusing images in front of the retina instead of on it.
- Hyperopia (farsightedness) is an eye condition that makes it challenging to see objects or people nearby, but everything far away is visible.
- Astigmatism is due to eye curvature that causes both near and farsightedness, whereby everything appears blurry at all distances.
“Vision is the true creative rhythm”
- Robert Delaunay