Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders and diseases, including cataracts and glaucoma.
Specialist equipment is used to check the patient's vision or the pressure inside his eye, amongst other things. The results of these tests help the ophthalmologist to reach a diagnosis and choose a method of treatment. He will then show the patient how to apply it.
An ophthalmologist can carry out operations on the eye such as corneal transplantation or lens replacement if he has received further training in ophthalmic surgery. Present-day eye operations use the latest techniques, such as lasers or microsurgery, to ensure that the surgical intervention is precise and meticulous.
The ophthalmologist is also able to perform complex tear duct surgery when working alongside an ear, nose and throat specialist.