Ophthalmologists are responsible for diagnosing and treating diseases of the eye. They do routine examinations on patients, prescribe medications, perform surgery on the eye, and carry out pre and post-operative care for patients, among other things. Some of the most common everyday procedures that an ophthalmologist will perform include diagnosing and monitoring mild eye and vision conditions, prescribing and fitting glasses and contact lenses to correct vision problems, and performing surgical operations such as LASIK surgery and Blepharoplasty.
The Path to Becoming an Ophthalmologist
To become an ophthalmologist, medical school graduates must complete an ophthalmology residency, which lasts for a minimum of five years after the MD degree, and you can get paid for the residency program depending on the country you are studying in. In the United States, four years of university (or college as it is called in the US), four years of medical school, and four to five years of additional specialized training are required to become a licensed ophthalmologist. So, as you can see, it is a lengthy educational process!