Description
Diagnose and perform surgery to treat and help prevent disorders and diseases of the eye. May also provide vision services for treatment including glasses and contacts.
- • Provide ophthalmic consultation to other medical professionals.
- • Refer patients for more specialized treatments when conditions exceed the experience, expertise, or scope of practice of practitioner.
- • Instruct interns, residents, or others in ophthalmologic procedures and techniques.
- • Develop or implement plans and procedures for ophthalmologic services.
- • Educate patients about maintenance and promotion of healthy vision.
- • Conduct clinical or laboratory-based research in ophthalmology.
- • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of health professionals to provide optimal patient care.
- • Provide or direct the provision of postoperative care.
- • Document or evaluate patients' medical histories.
- • Prescribe corrective lenses such as glasses or contact lenses.
- • Prescribe or administer topical or systemic medications to treat ophthalmic conditions and to manage pain.
- • Perform, order, or interpret the results of diagnostic or clinical tests.
- • Develop treatment plans based on patients' histories and goals, the nature and severity of disorders, and treatment risks and benefits.
- • Perform laser surgeries to alter, remove, reshape, or replace ocular tissue.
- • Perform ophthalmic surgeries such as cataract, glaucoma, refractive, corneal, vitro-retinal, eye muscle, or oculoplastic surgeries.
- • Prescribe ophthalmologic treatments or therapies such as chemotherapy, cryotherapy, or low vision therapy.
- • Perform comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders.
- • Diagnose or treat injuries, disorders, or diseases of the eye and eye structures including the cornea, sclera, conjunctiva, or eyelids.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
