What is Ophthalmology?
Ophthalmology is the branch of specialist medicine that is focused on the health of eyes and their surrounding tissues, including muscles, bones, eyelids, and tear production/drainage systems. Your eye is the organ of vision and consists of the cornea (the outer clear layer), the sclera (the white of the eye), the iris (the coloured part), the lens (lies behind the iris) and the retina (the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye). Your eyes ‘see’ by focusing light that enters the eye onto the retina which sends the image to the brain by the optic nerve.
Ophthalmologists are doctors who are trained in the study of eyes. Most will be trained in eye surgery, and may have particular areas of interest or expertise.
Optometrists are university trained professionals who diagnose eye disease, assess visual function, and prescribe spectacles and contact lenses as appropriate. Optometrists with TPA (therapeutic) endorsement may also prescribe a range of topical medicines (drops and ointment) for use in the eye.
Current Optometrists are:
- Vicky Wang
- Rebecca Findlay
- Debra So
- Deepa Kumar
- Vandana Kumar
- Sandhya Mathews
Orthoptists are specially trained Allied Health professionals who work closely with ophthalmologists and optometrists. Orthoptists examine, diagnose and manage conditions related to eye movement problems and defects with how the eyes work together as a pair (binocular vision). As a result, they assess a large variety of disorders and patients of all ages from neonates to the elderly. They are experts in investigating any abnormal eye movements (ocular motility disorders), misalignment of the eyes (strabismus/squint), reduced vision during childhood visual development (amblyopia) and double vision (diplopia).
Current orthoptists are:
- Miriam Langeslag-Smith
- Grace Yung
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