Eye care professionals are healthcare workers who provide services related to the eyes or vision. They range from those with a small amount of post-secondary training to those with a doctoral level of education. The three most common eye professionals are opticians, optometrists, and ophthalmologists. Nurses, physician assistants, and technicians can also specialize in eye care. At Park Professional Eyecare, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive eye exams to patients in the Bronx.
Low vision is a significant deterioration in vision that usually results from serious eye disease or injury. Ophthalmic technicians or technologists are highly trained assistants who can help an eye professional with more complex tests and operations. Ophthalmic physician assistants can perform a variety of tests to help an eye professional during an exam or procedure. It is important to see the appropriate eye professional for the care you need for your specific eye or vision problem. Plastic surgeons who specialize in ophthalmology can repair damage to the eyelids, bones, or other structures around the eye and tear drainage system.
This subspecialty deals with vision problems related to the way the eye communicates with the brain, nerves, and muscles. It also looks at the roles of other vision professionals, including nurses, physician assistants, and technicians. A corneal specialist can diagnose and treat eye conditions of the cornea, such as Fuchs dystrophy and keratoconus. They do not have the training needed to diagnose vision problems and cannot treat eye conditions. A pediatric ophthalmologist treats infants and children with childhood eye conditions and other eye problems.
Many common eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma, have no symptoms until a later stage. Some ophthalmologists continue their training to specialize in a particular eye condition or part of the eye. The PERRLA test is a standard eye exam that can help doctors diagnose a wide range of vision problems and some neurological problems.