Definition

1. Noun:
   • The branch of medicine concerned with the eye and its diseases: Ophthalmology is the medical specialty focused on the anatomy, function, and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats eye conditions, performs surgery, and prescribes corrective lenses.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • She decided to specialize in ophthalmology after her residency.
  • Advances in ophthalmology have made laser eye surgery very common.
  • The conference brought together experts in ophthalmology from around the world.

Advanced Usage

• "Clinical ophthalmology": Refers to the direct diagnosis and treatment of patients, as opposed to research.
  • His career in clinical ophthalmology spans over thirty years.
• "Pediatric ophthalmology": A sub-specialty focusing on eye diseases and vision care in children.
  • The child was referred to a specialist in pediatric ophthalmology.

Variants and Related Words

• Ophthalmologist (n): A medical doctor specializing in ophthalmology.
  • You should see an ophthalmologist for that persistent eye infection.
• Ophthalmic (adj): Relating to the eye or ophthalmology.
  • The clinic provides ophthalmic surgery and care.
• Optometry (n): The profession of examining the eyes for visual defects and prescribing corrective lenses. (Note: Optometrists are not medical doctors; ophthalmologists are.)
• Optician (n): A technician who designs, verifies, and fits eyeglass lenses and frames.

Synonyms

• Eye medicine: (Informal) The field of medicine dealing with the eye.
• Oculistics: (Rare, technical) An older term for ophthalmology.

Noun

1. the branch of medicine concerned with the eye and its diseases