what does ophthalmologist mean
An ophthalmologist is a medical and surgical specialist that deals specifically with the structure, function, diseases, and treatment of the eye. The discipline of ophthalmology comes from the Greek word opthalmos meaning eye, and logia meaning the study of. Due to the complexities and the importance of the eye as a special sense that provides vision, the discipline of ophthalmology is dedicated solely to this organ.
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (MD) or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) who specializes in eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists are trained to perform eye exams, diagnose and treat disease, prescribe medications and perform eye surgery. They also write prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses.