An orthoptist is an eye care professional who specializes in how the eyes work together. They assess and manage problems like eye misalignment and reduced depth perception. They commonly work in hospitals, eye clinics, and multidisciplinary pediatric services. They often collaborate closely with ophthalmologists and optometrists.

An optometrist is a licensed eye care clinician who examines vision and eye health. An optometrist commonly prescribes glasses and contact lenses and evaluates many eye symptoms. In many regions, an optometrist also diagnoses and manages selected eye diseases and coordinates referrals. The term is used in clinics, hospitals, retail practices, and community eye care settings.

An ocular oncologist is an ophthalmologist who specializes in tumors and cancers of the eye and surrounding tissues. They evaluate suspicious eye findings, confirm diagnoses, and coordinate treatment that aims to control disease and preserve vision when possible. This specialty is commonly used when an eye exam or imaging suggests a mass, atypical lesion, or cancer-related eye problem. Ocular oncology care often overlaps with retina, uveitis, oculoplastics, pathology, and medical oncology.

A pediatric ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specializes in eye care for infants, children, and teenagers. They diagnose and treat eye diseases, vision problems, and eye alignment conditions in developing eyes. This specialty is commonly involved in clinics, children’s hospitals, surgical centers, and multidisciplinary care teams.

A neuro-ophthalmologist is a physician who evaluates vision problems related to the nervous system. This specialty sits at the intersection of ophthalmology (eye care) and neurology (brain and nerves). It is commonly used when symptoms involve the optic nerve, eye movement, pupils, or visual processing in the brain. People are often referred after an optometrist or ophthalmologist finds signs that suggest an “eye–brain” connection.

An oculoplastic surgeon is an ophthalmologist with additional training in eyelid, tear duct (lacrimal), and orbital (eye socket) conditions. This specialist focuses on both eye function and the appearance of the tissues around the eye. An oculoplastic surgeon commonly treats problems that affect blinking, tearing, eye comfort, and protection of the eye surface. They also work with other specialties when eye-area disease is linked to the nose, sinuses, face, or systemic conditions.

A uveitis specialist is an ophthalmologist with advanced focus on uveitis and related eye inflammation. Uveitis means inflammation inside the eye, often involving the uvea (the iris, ciliary body, and choroid). This specialty is commonly used when eye inflammation is recurrent, severe, hard to diagnose, or threatens vision. Care often overlaps with immunology and systemic (whole-body) inflammatory or infectious diseases.

A cornea specialist is an eye physician (ophthalmologist) with advanced training in diseases and surgery of the cornea and ocular surface. The cornea is the clear front “window” of the eye that helps focus light for vision. cornea specialist care is commonly used for corneal infections, scarring, keratoconus, and corneal transplant evaluation. It is also used when complex dry eye, contact lens intolerance, or post-surgical corneal problems affect vision or comfort.

A glaucoma specialist is an ophthalmologist with advanced training in diagnosing and treating glaucoma. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can damage the optic nerve and reduce vision over time. A glaucoma specialist is commonly involved when glaucoma is suspected, confirmed, progressing, or complex. They work in clinics, hospitals, and surgical centers alongside optometrists and other eye doctors.

A vitreoretinal surgeon is an ophthalmologist who specializes in diseases and surgery of the retina and vitreous. The retina is the light-sensing tissue lining the back of the eye. The vitreous is the gel-like substance that fills the center of the eye. This subspecialist is commonly involved in urgent retinal problems and complex vision-threatening conditions.

An **eye surgeon** is a medical doctor who diagnoses eye disease and performs eye surgery. In most settings, an eye surgeon is an **ophthalmologist** with surgical training. The term is commonly used when discussing procedures like cataract surgery, laser vision correction, or retinal surgery. People may also use it broadly to describe specialists who operate on the eyes, eyelids, or orbit (the bony eye socket).

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats eye diseases and vision-related conditions. The term is commonly used in clinics and hospitals when care may involve medical treatment, procedures, or surgery. Ophthalmologists evaluate the eye as an organ and also consider how eye findings relate to overall health. People may see an ophthalmologist for routine eye disease evaluation, complex symptoms, or surgical care.

optical dispensing is the process of selecting, fitting, and delivering eyewear based on a vision prescription. It commonly includes eyeglass lenses, frames, and sometimes contact lenses or low-vision devices. It is used in optical shops, optometry clinics, and ophthalmology practices that provide eyewear services. This overview is informational and not medical advice.

contact lens service is the clinical evaluation, fitting, prescribing, and follow-up care related to contact lenses. It includes choosing a lens type, confirming safety and vision performance, and teaching handling and hygiene. It is commonly provided in optometry and ophthalmology clinics, and in specialty contact lens centers. It may be used for routine vision correction or for medical eye conditions that benefit from specialized lenses.

orthoptics is a clinical specialty focused on eye alignment, eye teaming, and binocular vision (using both eyes together). It is commonly used to assess and manage strabismus (eye misalignment), amblyopia (“lazy eye”), and double vision. orthoptics is practiced in eye clinics alongside ophthalmology and optometry. It includes both diagnostic testing and non-surgical treatments such as exercises, prisms, and occlusion strategies.

optometry is a healthcare field focused on vision, eye health, and how the eyes work together. It commonly involves eye exams, vision testing, and prescribing glasses or contact lenses. optometry also includes screening for eye disease and monitoring changes over time. It is used in community clinics, hospitals, and specialty eye care settings.

community eye care is eye and vision care delivered close to where people live, learn, and work. It combines prevention, screening, basic diagnosis, and referral into a coordinated local system. It is commonly used in primary care settings, schools, workplaces, and community clinics. It supports both routine vision needs and early detection of eye disease.

diabetic eye screening is a structured eye check used to look for diabetes-related damage inside the eye. It focuses on the retina (the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye) and the macula (the central vision area). It is commonly used in diabetes care pathways, primary care referrals, and eye clinics. It aims to detect problems early, often before vision symptoms appear.

A screening clinic is a healthcare setting focused on checking for disease or risk factors before clear symptoms appear. In eye care, it commonly looks for conditions that can affect vision silently, such as glaucoma or diabetic eye disease. A screening clinic may be based in a hospital, community program, optometry practice, or mobile service. It typically uses standardized tests to decide who needs a full diagnostic eye exam or specialist care.

An ocular trauma service is a specialized clinical team that evaluates and treats injuries to the eye and surrounding tissues. It is commonly based in hospitals, emergency departments, and eye centers that manage urgent or complex eye problems. The goal is to protect vision, reduce complications, and coordinate timely follow-up when an eye injury occurs.