What Is The Difference Between An Ophthalmologist An Optometrist?

There are over 22,000 eye doctors in the United States, but only a select few can call themselves ophthalmologists.

What is an ophthalmologist, and how is an ophthalmologist different from an optometrist?

Optometrists and ophthalmologists are both eye doctors.

But optometrists and ophthalmologists have different areas of expertise, and different approaches when it comes to treating your eyes.

Here’s how:

An optometrist is someone who specializes in vision and eye health. An optometrist will examine your eyes, assess your vision and diagnose problems with your vision. He or she can prescribe glasses, contact lenses or other vision correction devices to correct your vision.

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the treatment of the eyes. Ophthalmologists can diagnose eye diseases and perform surgery on the eyes.

Ophthalmologists and optometrists both address a patient’s eyes, but the two professions differ in terms of expertise, training and educational requirements.

What Are The Warning Signs That A Child Might Need Glasses?

A lot of children don’t need glasses. But if you’re concerned about your child’s vision, it’s important to know the signs that indicate he or she might need glasses. Although it can be hard to tell whether your child needs glasses, there is one glaring sign that should alert you to the possibility: 

If your child has a really hard time seeing things. If a teacher has mentioned the words “designated driver” or “parent pick-up,” it could be because of your child’s vision. Vision impairment can also cause kids to have trouble focusing on their schoolwork and to fall behind in their work. 

So what are some other red flags? 

  • You’ve noticed that your child is starting to sit closer and closer to the TV. 
  • Your preschooler has trouble finding objects around the house or in the yard. 
  • Your 6-year-old seems to bump into things more than his peers. 
  • Even though you’ve told him not to, your 8-year-old keeps walking into walls. 

If you see any of these signs, or something else seems off, make an appointment with an eye doctor right away.

The best time for parents to check their child’s vision is between the ages of 3 and 5 years old. Before that age, most kids don’t have the skills to cooperate well with an eye exam, and after that age, some vision problems can be harder to detect with standard vision tests.

At Bonafide Eye Care we use state of the art equipment to examine and treat all eye care emergencies and eye care problems. Call us 718-386-9721 or stop by our Queens Office so that we can take care of you and your family.

What Is Dry Eye Syndrome And How Can You Avoid It

dry-eye-treatment

Dry Eye Syndrome, also known as xerophthalmia, is a condition that causes eyes to dry out and become sore or irritated. It can be caused by physical conditions such as Sjogren’s syndrome, LASIK surgery, or contact lens use.

Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) is a common eye disorder that affects around 4% of the general population. It tends to develop in middle-aged women, though its cause is still unknown.

The symptoms of DES include blurred vision, headaches, pain, and irritation in the eyes. In some cases the sufferer experiences fluctuating vision and even mild disorientation. The symptoms can be alleviated with certain treatments, but they often come back when you stop using them.

DES is caused by an overproduction of tears: your body makes too many tears as opposed to too little. Your tear glands get exhausted trying to produce more tears than necessary, and they become less capable of producing enough tears as time goes on.

Though DES can’t be cured entirely, there are ways to control it with prescription drops for your eyes and lifestyle changes: avoiding smoke and contact lenses, drinking less coffee and alcohol, taking omega-3 supplements (fish oil), eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep every night, etc.

Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) is a chronically dry feeling in your eye that can’t be fixed by simply crying or blinking more often. It’s caused by a lack of natural tears, which helps keep your eye moist, and usually progresses over time.

Although it’s not life-threatening, DES can affect your vision and quality of life. There are different types of DES, including Sjogren’s Syndrome (SS), which is an autoimmune disease that causes dry eyes as well as other symptoms like dryness in the mouth and problems with joints.

DES can be treated with artificial tears, punctal plugs for treating dry eyes, medications for autoimmune diseases and dry eyes, and wearing sunglasses to protect weak tear ducts.