Definition & Meaning of "ophthalmologist"

Who is an "ophthalmologist"?

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specializes in eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists are trained to diagnose and treat eye diseases, perform eye surgeries, and prescribe medications to treat eye conditions. They perform thorough eye exams to evaluate vision and check for eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. Ophthalmologists also provide treatment for conditions like eye infections, eye injuries, and refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. They may perform surgical procedures such as cataract removal, LASIK surgery, or retinal detachment repair to improve or restore vision.