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Ophthalmology is the medical specialty which studies conditions and disorders that affect the visual system and eyes. It looks at preventing blindness, promoting eye health, and rehabilitating patients who have visual impairments, or disease or trauma. It is underpinned by the Ophthalmic Sciences - which include anatomy, physiology, optics, pharmacology, pathology and Ophthalmic Emergency Medicine. It undertakes investigations and provides diagnosis, advice and education, and management and treatment of ocular conditions – which may involve therapeutic and surgical procedures, post-operative care, prescription of pharmaceutical medicines, and monitoring/evaluation of treatment plans. Ophthalmology services are provided in public hospitals and private clinics. Practitioners have clinical and surgical skills. They work in multi-disciplinary teams and collaborate with other medical specialists and community and allied health care teams to provide specialist ophthalmic care to patients.

Ophthalmology Jobs

Ophthalmologists are experts in eye health and provide specialised clinical and surgical services which investigate, diagnose, manage, treat and prevent disorders and diseases that affect the eyes and visual system. They undertake eye assessments of visual function, diagnose conditions and formulate appropriate management and care plans which consider the patient’s condition, indications and contradictions, and social and economic context. They prescribe pharmaceutical medicines, and monitor and manage any ocular and systemic side effects. They formulate surgical plans and perform ophthalmological procedures, which can involve local anaesthetics, laser treatment, surgery and post-procedure care. Ophthalmologists use a range of technical and surgical equipment and materials, and manage peri-operative complications and emergencies. They collaborate with other doctors and health practitioners, train junior doctors, and work both independently and within multidisciplinary teams. They are often involved in research activities. To pursue a career in ophthalmology, doctors undertake 7 years of post-graduate training, including foundation and core training, followed by Specialist Training in Ophthalmology, which leads to FRCOphth, a CCT, and specialist registration with the GMC.