Ophthalmologists in Alaska are some of the best trained and most proficient in the country. Ophthalmologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the eye.

Training

These types of physicians need to graduate an accredited medical school and then do an internship and three to five year minimum residency in a hospital setting in the specialty of ophthalmology. During this training period, they literally help diagnose and treat thousands of patients with eye problems. Then they have to pass rigorous, written examinations in their specialty in order to obtain their license to practice and become board certified surgeons in the field. The training is grueling and can take its toll on many doctors who want to go into this profession, but for those with enough discipline, they become successful professional practitioners.

Private Practice

After their training, most doctors of this type go into private practice where they can see patients on a regular, daily basis. Many times other specialists in the eye such as optometrists cannot fully detect exactly what's wrong with a patient so they'll refer their patients to these ophthalmologists who are much better trained in determining the exact causes and specific treatments for the many different eye diseases or injuries. These physicians usually have long office hours, often starting at eight in the morning and extending to seven or eight in the evening to accommodate patients who need to visit them after their work shift is over. These physicians can diagnose all types of eye problems such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, problems with the retina, cornea, pupils, and eye muscles and nerves.

Surgery

Some of their patients will require surgery to take care of their vision issues. This can include surgery for cataracts, or many types of vision correction surgery performed on the patient so they can see better without eyeglasses or contact lenses. It takes many years of advanced training to become a qualified eye surgeon such as these healthcare practitioners are, but they're performing a very vital and important function in the lives of so many people who need invasive eye care procedures performed.

Follow-up Care of Patients

After both routine examinations and major surgery, follow-up care is required of these individuals who saw this kind of doctor. This care can require regular checkups to see how the individuals are progressing and healing and just how well their vision is improving. It's an essential aspect of the overall continuum of care for the ophthalmological practitioner. These practitioners make sure that their patients know just how important it is to follow up with their vision care issues for the maximum results possible in terms of seeing much better.