Ophthalmology Clinical Trials
While a lot is known about the field of ophthalmology and how to treat various disorders that affect eyes, there is still a need for ophthalmology clinical trials. Perhaps one day with more knowledge and innovations diseases like blindness will be preventable and even curable. Fairly new developments in the field of ophthalmology include the invention of lasik eye surgery.
For many people this surgery alleviates the need for them to wear glasses or contacts. The procedure is not 100% perfected though since some patient’s still experience vision problems. If you have vision problems or have been diagnosed with a condition that affects your eyes, you may qualify to participate in an ophthalmology clinical trial.
What is Ophthalmology?
Ophthalmology studies the anatomy and diseases of the eye. Ophthalmologists are surgeons as well as medical doctors. Just a few of the specialties of study within the field include anterior segment surgery, cataracts, cornea, and glaucoma. The eye is a fragile but vital organ that needs to be treated very carefully. In addition to surgery ophthalmologists diagnose patient’s vision using tools like a phoropter and slit lamp. A phoropter uses different lenses to measure eye refraction. Ophthalmologists then prescribe glasses, contacts or other treatments based on their diagnosis. Besides vision problems ophthalmology deals with diseases like amblyopia, astigmatism, entropion, and ptosis. Glaucoma is a group of diseases that effect the optical nerve and cataracts is clouding of the eye’s lenses.