Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine and surgery which deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in ophthalmology. The credentials include a degree in medicine, followed by additional four to five years of ophthalmology residency training. Ophthalmology residency training programs may require a one-year pre-residency training in internal medicine, pediatrics, or general surgery. Additional specialty training may be sought in a particular aspect of eye pathology. Ophthalmologists are allowed to use medications to treat eye diseases, implement laser therapy, and perform surgery when needed. Ophthalmologists may participate in academic research on the diagnosis and treatment for eye disorders.
Orthoptics is a profession allied to the eye care profession. Orthoptists are the experts in diagnosing and treating defects in eye movements and problems with how the eyes work together, called binocular vision. These can be caused by issues with the muscles around the eyes or defects in the nerves enabling the brain to communicate with the eyes. Orthoptists are responsible for the diagnosis and non-surgical management of strabismus (squint), amblyopia and eye movement disorders. The word orthoptics comes from the Greek words ὀρθός orthos, "straight" and ὀπτικός optikοs, "relating to sight" and much of the practice of orthoptists concerns disorders of binocular vision and defects of eye movement. Orthoptists are trained professionals who specialize in orthoptic treatment, such as eye patches, eye exercises, prisms or glasses. They commonly work with paediatric patients and also adult patients with neurological conditions such as stroke, brain tumours or multiple sclerosis. With specific training, in some countries orthoptists may be involved in monitoring of some forms of eye disease, such as glaucoma, cataract screening and diabetic retinopathy
Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes do not properly align with each other when looking at an object. The eye that is focused on an object can alternate. The condition may be present occasionally or constantly. If present during a large part of childhood, it may result in amblyopia or loss of depth perception. If onset is during adulthood, it is more likely to result in double vision.
Pediatric ophthalmology is a sub-speciality of ophthalmology concerned with eye diseases, visual development, and vision care in children.
Vision therapy (VT) is an umbrella term for a variety of treatments based around eye exercises. The treatments aim to treat convergence insufficiency – for which there is supporting evidence – and a range of neurological, educational and spatial difficulties – uses which are not supported by good evidence.
An eye care professional (ECP) is an individual who provides a service related to the eyes or vision. It is any healthcare worker involved in eye care, from one with a small amount of post-secondary training to practitioners with a doctoral level of education.
Marshall Miller Parks was an American ophthalmologist known to many as "the father of pediatric ophthalmology".
The red reflex refers to the reddish-orange reflection of light from the back of the eye, or fundus, observed when using an ophthalmoscope or retinoscope. The reflex relies on the transparency of optical media and reflects off the fundus back through media into the aperture of the ophthalmoscope. The red reflex is considered abnormal if there is any asymmetry between the eyes, dark spots, or white reflex (Leukocoria).
The International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO) was established as a not-for-profit organization in 1969 to offer certification and continuing education opportunities to ophthalmic Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (AOP).
Henry S. Metz is an American pediatric ophthalmologist. He was the CEO of the Smith-Kettlewell Institute in San Francisco from 2003–2008. Much of his early research concerned eye movements and strabismus, including saccadic velocity measurements and use of botulinum toxin.
Gene Folk was an American ophthalmologist who specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of strabismus. A charter member of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, he later served as President of this organization. With Martin Urist, Folk helped found the "Chicago" school of strabismus, whose ideas competed with and stimulated those of Marshall M. Parks, Arthur Jampolsky, and other prominent strabismologists. During the 1950s and 1960s, Urist and Knapp's contributions led to a much improved understanding of so-called A and V "pattern" strabismus, where the amplitude of deviation varies in up- and downgaze.
Burt Kushner is an American pediatric ophthalmologist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of strabismus. Kushner's contributions include demonstration of improved visual fields of patients following strabismus surgery, elucidation of torsional contribution to patients with diplopia, corticosteroid treatment of periocular capillary hemangioma, and novel hypotheses on the mechanism of "overacting" extraocular muscles.
Infantile esotropia is an ocular condition of early onset in which one or either eye turns inward. It is a specific sub-type of esotropia and has been a subject of much debate amongst ophthalmologists with regard to its naming, diagnostic features, and treatment.
Jane Kivlin is an American ophthalmologist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatrics genetics and strabismus. A longstanding member of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, she served as President of this organization. She is well known for her contributions to the understanding of amblyopia and the ophthalmologic manifestations of shaken baby syndrome.
Marilyn Miller is an American pediatric ophthalmologist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital eye diseases and strabismus. She has held leadership positions in her field.
The John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah serves as the largest ophthalmology clinical care and research facility in the Mountain West with more than 60 faculty members and 10 satellite clinics.
The International Orthoptic Association represents over 20,000 orthoptists, in over 20 countries.
Elias I. Traboulsi is a physician in the fields of ophthalmic genetics and pediatric ophthalmology.
Yog Raj Sharma is an Indian ophthalmologist and ex-Chief of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, the apex body of the National Programme for the Control of Blindness, a Government of India initiative to reduce the prevalence of blindness in India. He is the Chairman of the Task Force on Prevention and Control of Diabetic Retinopathy Group and the Co-Chairman of the National Task Force on Prevention of Blindness from Retinopathy of Prematurity under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Government of India. An advisor to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India, Sharma was honoured by the Government of India in 2015 with Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award.
Alan Brown Scott, is an ophthalmologist specializing in eye muscles and their disorders, such as strabismus. He is best known for his work in developing and manufacturing the drug that became known as Botox, research described as "groundbreaking" by the ASCRS.
