An Ophthalmologist Takes Care of Your Eyes for Life

by Kevin Smith Author

Your eyesight should not be taken for granted. At the first sign of trouble, you should see an ophthalmologist. You may only need a stronger prescription for your glasses, or you may need surgery. An ophthalmologist in Tacoma will take care of all your vision needs.

Ophthalmologists and Optometrists

Should you go to an ophthalmologist or an optometrist to have your eyes checked. If you're having minor problems with your eyes, such as not being able to see clearly at a distance, you can see an optometrist. An optometrist is not a medical doctor, but he or she can test your eyes and prescribe corrective lenses. If you have a bigger problem with your eyesight, such as blurred vision or seeing spots, you'll want to see an ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor and can perform surgery on your eyes.

Lifetime Care

An ophthalmologist's services include the following:

Testing the eyes for vision problems
Examining the eyes for diseases
Prescribing corrective lenses
Monitoring the progression of a disease
Prescribing drops to treat an eye disease or condition
Performing surgery

Cataract Surgery

Are you experiencing blurry or hazy vision? Are your eyes sensitive to light? You may have a cataract. You're not alone. Over half of Americans over age 65 have cataracts. An ophthalmologist can test your eyes for cataracts. Cataracts can be detected when they are very small, so surgery may not be necessary right away.

When your cataracts begin to affect your vision to the extent you have difficulty reading or driving at night, it is time for surgery. A doctor trained in ophthalmology in Tacoma, WA, uses sound waves, rather than lasers, to perform the surgery. Your lens is divided into small pieces, so it can be removed easily. The cataract is removed, and an artificial lens is placed in your eye.

Reshaping Your Cornea

LASIK surgery is used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. LASIK surgery corrects the shape of your cornea to correct or adjust your focus. Not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK surgery, but if you are, you may be able to say goodbye to your eyeglass or contact lenses for life.

Retinal Detachment

Do you see flashing lights or floating objects? This could be a sign of retinal detachment. You should see an ophthalmologist right away. A detached retina could result from trauma to the eye, or it may be caused by diabetes. An ophthalmologist in Tacoma can perform a retinal detachment procedure. The success rate is high, but as a retinal detachment advances, the risk of complications from surgery and the loss of vision go up.