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Healthcare Services Ophthalmology General Ophthalmology

The visual system has fascinated mankind since ancient times. In fact, many consider sight to be the most important of the senses. Approximately half of our brain structure is dedicated to processing vision, and the loss of vision can have devastating effects on a patient.

Ophthalmology is a specialty within medicine dedicated to the study of the eyes and vision. It is one of the oldest medical specialties, dating back to about the fifth century B.C.

In more modern times, ophthalmology was the first branch of medicine to offer board-certified physicians, with the founding of the American Board of Ophthalmology in 1917. All of the ophthalmology faculty in the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville Department of Ophthalmology have completed four years of medical school and a residency in ophthalmology.

Additionally, all faculty have gone on to complete subspecialty training within ophthalmology. These subspecialty areas include diseases of the retina, neuro-ophthalmology, cornea, strabismus, oculoplastics, and glaucoma. All ophthalmologists at the UF Eye Institute practice general ophthalmology in addition to their areas of subspecialty training. Therefore, patients have the benefit of seeing a subspecialist even for their routine eye care. General ophthalmology practice includes not only checking vision, but screening for common ocular diseases such as cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and hypertensive retinopathy. It also includes the medical treatment of common eye disorders such as glaucoma, dry eye, infections, allergies and trauma. Most of the UF ophthalmologists at Shands Jacksonville perform cataract surgery in addition to their specialty surgeries.

The core mission of general ophthalmology is preventing vision loss. Much of the exam is centered on screening for signs of ocular or systemic disease that may lead to vision loss. Since vision is so important, routine general ophthalmology exams should be a part of everyone’s health care.

 

UF Department of Ophthalmology at Shands Jacksonville: The eye is the organ of sight, a nearly spherical hollow globe filled with fluids (humors). The outer layer or tunic (sclera, or white, and cornea) is fibrous and protective. The middle tunic layer (choroid, ciliary body and the iris) is vascular. The innermost layer (the retina) is nervous or sensory. The fluids in the eye are divided by the lens into the vitreous humor (behind the lens) and the aqueous humor (in front of the lens). The lens itself is flexible and suspended by ligaments which allow it to change shape to focus light on the retina, which is composed of sensory neurons.