Introduction Ophthalmic medical personnel are classified as allied health personnel and are defined as individuals with training and responsibilities that support, supplement, and assist physicians, including ophthalmologists and other health…

Introduction Issues that challenge our ethical and moral value systems have been part of medicine throughout recorded history. As early as the 5th century bc , Hippocrates recognized the role…

Blindness defined The most widely accepted definition of blindness is central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with a correcting lens, or whose visual acuity is…

Most surgical procedures for the eye are performed on an outpatient basis. However, some procedures (e.g., retinal surgery, high-risk patients, cardiac surgery) are still performed in the hospital. This chapter…

Perhaps more than any other recent advance in medical science, the advent of laser technology has produced a major effect on clinical ophthalmology. The effect of solar radiation was well…

Specular microscope The specular microscope is used to examine the endothe-lium of the cornea, which is the layer of the cornea in contact with the aqueous humor transfer ( Fig….

Technologies and techniques continue to evolve in the correction of myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Patients are increasingly interested in spectacle or contact lens independence. It is important to understand…

In clinical practice, myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism have long been the familiar refractive errors (i.e., lower-order optical aberrations) for which patients have received corrective glasses and contact lenses. However, the…

Ambulatory—often called outpatient —surgery has been one of the most dramatic changes in an ophthalmic practice. In contrast to the previous patterns of hospitalization and restricted activity, most types of…

Aseptic technique Aseptic technique in the office or hospital is an attempt to prevent infection by the elimination of microorganisms. Ophthalmic surgery demands maximum asepsis, particularly in operations involving the…