Selecting Your Eye Doctor.
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Neal Nirenberg, M.D., FACS
Board Certified Ophthalmologist |
Patients all over the world often want to find the "BEST" eye doctor
or eye surgeon. While there are many different opinions about what this means,
in our opinion, the best eye doctor for you is the one who is most qualified
to treat your particular condition and with whom you feel confident and comfortable.
Since there is no official "rating" system
for eye surgeons, for the most part, it's up to you to learn about the
physician in whom you are placing your trust. With that in mind,
here are a few common FAQ's to consider:
What is an Ophthalmologist?
Our physicians are ophthalmologists. This means they are medical doctors (M.D.)
that specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of eye diseases and
other related conditions. Ophthalmologists also provide routine eye
care, such as prescribing eyeglasses and contact lenses.
The training required to become
an ophthalmologist is amazingly long and rigorous. It includes at least four
years of medical school, after a minimum of four years of undergraduate college,
a one-year internship in general medicine, usually at a hospital, and a three-year
residency in ophthalmology at an accredited teaching program. Following this,
many ophthalmologists complete one or two additional years of training
in a fellowship to specialize in a particular aspect of medical or surgical
eye care. In addition to that, yearly Continuing Medical
Education (CME) is a mandatory requirement that must be met for the
renewal of practicing certificates.
For more information: What is an Ophthalmologist?
What is "Board Certified"?
Board certification means that your ophthalmologist has taken
and passed rigorous examinations that cover all aspects of medical and surgical
eye care. These examinations are completely voluntary. An ophthalmologist is
not required by law to be "board-certified"
for the practice of medicine. The American Board of Ophthalmology
(ABO) is the
main certifying body for ophthalmologists in the United States.
What does "subspecialist" mean?
By definition, all ophthalmologists specialize in treatment
of eye problems. However, some choose to concentrate even further in a more
specific area. This is typically done after they complete a fellowship training
program. A subspecialty may focus on treatment of a particular disease,
such as glaucoma, or in a specific part of the eye like the retina or the
cornea, or in a particular field such as pediatric care.
Other eye-related health care providers:
There are many other eye care professionals, such as optometrists and
opticians. They are authorized to provide limited aspects of eye
care.
Optometrists
Optometrists provide
routine vision care services, prescribe eyeglasses and fit contact lenses.
In Arizona, as in some other states, optometrists have been legislatively
permitted to treat certain eye diseases. Optometrists are not medical
doctors and may not perform surgery.
For more information: What is an Optometrist?
Opticians Opticians dispense eyeglasses, but
do not perform eye exams or treat any eye diseases. At the present time,
opticians are not required to be licensed in Arizona.
Visit our: Arizona Optical Shop
If you would like further information, please call our office at:
480-981-6111
The Best Possible Eye Care
The eye surgeons of East Valley Ophthalmology perform the full
scope of advanced technology diagnostic testing and treatment,
as well as taking the time necessary to provide each patient with information needed to understand their condition and to achieve the best possible outcomes. If you or a
family member or friend have not had a recent eye examination,
please take a moment to Request an Appointment.
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