January is Eye Care Month and, inspired by a recent and successful eye surgery, one of our volunteers wanted to share what she learned from her eye doctor.
What is an eye doctor?
Thne answer to this question will most likely have different meanings for different people.
Most commonly, an eye doctor is a medical doctor prescribing corrective lenses to help with visual impairments. There are many needs for these services, the most common in people who are nearsighted (inability to clearly see objects at a distance) and/or farsighted (inability to see items close up), as well as those with astigmatism (a defect in the eye which can cause images to distort). Eye glasses and contact lenses are used by many to help correct vision. (Source: www.dictionary.com)
Some vision problems affect only certain parts of the eye, and we have specialists to help care for specific issues of the eye. One of the most common is cataracts (lens of the eye becomes opaque, resulting in blurred vision), which occurs frequently in elderly individuals.
Another area that can become affected is the cornea. I recently had a cornea transplant and am getting along quite well according to my surgery.
One thing I learned is that organ transplants are greatly needed in the practice of modern medicine, especially medicine related to the eyes and vision. It is simple to fill out the required form, especially while you are still able, allowing you to donate organs and tissues that could continue life in someone else's body.
