Dr. Rajashree P. Ramkrishna

It is very essential in the present times to understand the training, ability and skills of the doctors whom you select for your needs.

An Eye Doctor is called an Ophthalmologist. He/she can possess following qualifications

1. M.S (Ophth) : This is called Master Of Surgery in Ophthalmology. It takes Three years of training in a Medical Council recognized Medical College after passing M.B;B.S and includes undertaking and submission of a thesis or research Paper during the training. It can be done by obtaining seat based on Merit, Based on reservation or Based on Donation

2. D.O (Ophth) : This is called Diploma in Ophthalmology. It is similar to M.S. except that training period is TWO years and does NOT include doing research paper

3. DNB (Ophth): This is called Diplomat of National Board in ophthalmology. The training is done after M.B;B.S in some private institutes or hospitals recognized by National board of examinations and not in MCI recognized Medical college

Long Term Fellowships:  As the knowledge base is increasing, there is further training undertaken for super specializing in some specific field of eye surgery through a process called FELLOWSHIP. This includes training for about two years after M.S., D.O or D.N.B in some Institues of repute like Shankar Nethralaya Chennai, Aravind Eye Care Systems ( Madurai/ Coimbatore), L.V.Prasad Eye Institute ( Hyderabad) to name a few. The training involves doing actual work in specialized techniques under supervision and guidance of experts in respective fields like Retina, Cornea, Glaucoma, Oculoplasty, Phaco and Refractive Surgery, Paediatric Ophthalmology, Neurophthalmology etc.

Short Term Fellowships: They are similar to long term fellowships but training period is very short , like 2-3 months . The training helps a general ophthalmologist to acquire some skills in a speciality but not sufficient to be able to be a super specialist. However, some doctors with such training may claim to be superspecialists!

ACEDEMIC FELLOWSHIPS: Such fellowships test the knowledge of Doctor through two or three steps of examinations/ Viva. There is no practical training given Examples are,

FRCS: Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons

FICO: Fellow of International Council of Ophthalmologists

FAICO: Fellow of All India Collegium of Ophthalmologists

Some senior Ophthalmologists who were trained in multiple eye diseases and worked for a long time in handling them may be as good as superspecialists in some areas.

Besides Ophthalmologists, some trained personnel can undertake some eye care tasks like

Optometrists: They can assess and prescribe Spectacle power(numbers), prescribe and dispense contact lenses, run some eye tests on machines.

Opticians: They can make/ sell glasses or contact lenses as prescribed by Ophthalmologists/ optometrists. They can not prescribe. Yet, many shops do so without Optometrists.

Ophthalmic Technicians: They can operate machines like Perimetry, OCT, A scan ultrasonography, Topography etc.

Hope that now the readers are better informed about their eye care providers. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult an Ophthalmologist.

With so many of us using computers and laptops at work, computer eye strain has become a major complaint. Studies have shown that eye strain and other distressing visual symptoms occur in 50 to 90 percent of individuals working on the computers. The problems can range from physical fatigue to minor annoyance like red eye and eye twitching, thus resulting in decreased productivity and an increment in errors.

And, with an increasingly digitized world, computers can never be replaced. Though they have made your work easier, they do come with certain disadvantages as well.  So, it is important that you take certain precautionary measures to protect your eyes. Here are some of them:

1. Wash your eyes: Wash your eyes on a regular basis as it facilitates cooling and relaxation of the eyes. Make it a routine to wash your eyes at least 5 to 6 times in a day.
2. Get computer glasses: Use computer glasses to protect your eyes as they help in minimizing the effect of the radiation from the screen. If you work for long hours in front of the computer, then you should consider getting a pair of computer glasses.
3. The position of your screen: The screen should ideally be positioned at an arm’s length and the viewing angle of the monitor should be around 35 degrees. Make sure you position your chair accordingly, keeping these tips in mind.
4. Eye exercise: You should perform some eye exercises regularly to reduce the strain and to give relaxation to your eyes. Follow the 20-20 rule wherein after working on your computer for 20 minutes, you redirect your gaze to an object that is around 20 feet away. This helps your eye muscles to relax and thus, improves your eye health.
5. Don’t work at a stretch: Take breaks in between your work sessions to reduce fatigue in your eyes. Constantly staring at a screen for an extended amount of time can cause problems in your eye. Take 2 minutes breaks for every 20 minutes you spend working on your computer. This helps to reduce the strain on your eyes also helps to release tension in the muscles of the neck and back.
6. Blink more than usual: Blinking moistens your eyes and causes tear production which curbs dryness in your eyes. It also prevents eye irritation and helps in clearing out dirt from the eyes.

Apart from following these tips, you should also make sure to go in for a regular eye check-up, so as to avoid any major problems. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!