As an ophthalmologist, you will work with people in a medical setting. Ophthalmologists work with the eye, and can identify and treat diseases that occur in the eye. You may work in a private clinic, or you can work in a clinic or hospital setting. There are many different jobs for any physician that specializes in diseases and treatment of the eye.
What Does an Ophthalmologist Do?
Generally, an ophthalmologist works in a private practice, providing people of the local community with tests for common eye problems. You can visit this office to have your eyes tested for sight problems, or to have diagnostic tests that indicate glaucoma or more serious problems. Most of these community practitioners are very general, and will provide referrals for more serious issues, such as those that should be treated with surgery. Specialized clinics can provide specific services, such as surgery for cataracts.
Some ophthalmologists can provide many services, however. Training is an important part of performing many of the services that are available as a treatment for common eye problems. For instance, when laser technology was developed to improve eyesight, these professionals had to be trained in the proper use of the equipment. If you have an ophthalmologist that is trained in many areas rather than specializing, you may be able to have several different kinds of treatments completed at the same office.
Training and Education
Your education will include medical school when you want to become an ophthalmologist. You will begin by obtaining a four year degree, typically with a major in sciences. You will also need to pass an entrance exam to medical school before you are enrolled in classes. Medical school is typically four more years of training, where you will focus on the specifics of your career as an ophthalmologist. You may have some clinical training in addition to the regular written learning that you will need to complete for your degree.
Like all medical professionals, you will need an internship to get your license to practice as an ophthalmologist. Your internship will provide you with a lot of practical, hands-on learning experiences that you can use later in your own practice. You will also need to have three years of training as a resident in a hospital, where you will work as an ophthalmologist-in-training with other professionals in your field. All of this training is very important, since this is where you will learn how to identify and treat diseases of the eye.
September 14, 2010
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