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Our Clinical Team An
ophthalmologist may attend to such diverse problems
as eyeglass prescriptions for vision difficulties;
contact lens prescriptions; repair of torn eyelids;
eye conditions such as dry, drooping, crossed, or
lazy eyes; or eye disorders such as glaucoma,
cataract, retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy,
and visual problems from brain tumors. Dr.
Morgan
and Dr.
Crouch
are general ophthalmologists. Dr.
Arnold is
a pediatric ophthalmologist and specialist in
strabismus. Dr.
Rosen's
subspecialty is orbit, plastic, as well as
neuro-ophthalmic eye problems. Dr.
Steiner
specializes in corneal and refractive
ophthalmology. 20/20 does
not mean you have perfect vision, because good
vision consists of different skills - including
side vision, depth perception, eye muscle action,
etc. The numbers 20/20, 20/30 etc. refer to your
ability to see a certain size letter at a specific
distance. When measuring far vision, a result of
20/20 means that you see at 20 feet what most
others can also see at 20 feet. 20/20 is a way of
saying that visual acuity (sharpness of vision) is
normal. With a score of 20/40, you are seeing at 20
feet that you should be seeing clearly from 40
feet. The larger the bottom number of the fraction,
the more blurred the vision. Optometrists are
an integral part of the heath care team. They
examine the eye to detect and diagnose vision
conditions such as: nearsightedness,
farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia,
convergence insufficiency which can cause eye
discomfort and difficulty reading, and systemic
diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.
Dr.
Sternberg
is an optometrist. Orthoptist:
Is a specialized member of the ophthalmic medical
personnel team. The orthoptist has had 2 years of
postgraduate training and has passed a national
certifying examination. The orthoptist's areas of
expertise are in visual function testing,
particularly in infants and children, and in the
evaluation of eye muscle disorders. The orthoptist
helps with the diagnosis, management, and non
surgical treatment of eye muscle imbalance and
related visual impairments. Orthoptists work with
and under the direction of ophthalmologists.
Ophthalmic Associates is fortunate to have two
orthoptists in our clinics. Ophthalmic
Medical Technician and Assistant: The
ophthalmic medical assistant or technician helps
the ophthalmologist and optometrist in a variety of
diagnostic and administrative tasks. Some of the
most common tasks the ophthalmic medical assistant
or technician performs are: scheduling and greeting
patients; helping patients to understand and comply
with treatments the doctor prescribes; performing
certain tests and using ophthalmic instruments to
provide diagnostic information; assisting with
office surgical procedures; and administering
topical medications or diagnostic drugs as required
by the doctors for testing or treatment.
Ophthalmic
medical technicians and assistants vary in their
levels of knowledge and skill. The Joint Commission
on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology
(JCAHPO) recognizes three levels: the certified
ophthalmic medical assistant (COA) - lowest
certification; certified ophthalmic technician
(COT); and certified ophthalmic medical
technologist (COMT) - highest certification. The
JCAHPO certification attest to the skills and
knowledge of an individual at each of these levels
after certain educational and experience
prerequisites have been met and an examination has
been passed. All of Ophthalmic Associates' clinical
staff are either certified or in the immediate
process of becoming certified. What Do Some
of Those Words Mean? Amblyopia,
Lazy Eye. Decreased vision in the eye with the
greater optical error; occurs when the two eyes
have a significant difference in refraction. Vision
may improve after several months of eyeglass
correction. A-Scan.
Type of ultrasound, radar-like device that emits
very high frequency waves that are reflected by the
ocular structures and converted into electrical
impulses; can be displayed on a screen as a series
of echo spikes. Used for differentiating normal and
abnormal eye tissue or for measuring length of
eyeball. Astigmatism.
Optical defect in which refractive power is not
uniform in all meridians. Light rays entering the
eye are bent unequally by different meridians,
preventing formation of a sharp point focus on the
retina. Instead, light rays form two focal lines.
Corrected by a cylindrical eyeglass or contact
lens. Conjunctivitis.
Inflammation of conjunctiva (mucus membrane that
cover white of eye and inner surfaces of eyelids.)
Characterized by discharge, grittiness, redness,
and swelling. Contagious; usually viral in origin.
Diplopia,
double vision. Perception of two images from a
single object; images may be horizontal, vertical
or diagonal. Floaters,
vitreous floaters. Particles that float in
vitreous and cast shadows on the retina; seen by
patient as spots, cobwebs, spiders, etc. Occurs
normally with aging or with vitreous detachments,
retinal tears, or inflammation. Glaucoma.
Group of diseases characterized by increased
intraocular pressure resulting in damage to the
optic nerve and retinal nerve fibers; documented by
typical visual field defects and increased size of
optic cup. A common cause of preventable vision
loss. Hyperopia,
Farsightedness. Condition in which an eye is
underpowered. Thus light rays coming in from
distant object strike the retina before coming to
sharp focus; true focus is said to be "behind the
retina." Corrected with additional optical power,
which may be supplied by a plus lens (spectacle or
contact) or by excessive use of the eye's own
focusing ability. Keratitis.
Corneal inflammation, characterized by loss of
luster and transparency, and cellular
infiltration. Macular
Degeneration. One of the most common causes of
decreased vision after age 60. Usually evident as a
loss of pigment from pigment epithelium and
deposits of yellowish material in the sub-pigment
epithelial layer in the central retinal zone.
Abnormal new blood vessels may grow under the
retina and leak fluid and blood. Similar changes
can occur in younger patients as part of a
hereditary disease. Myopia,
Nearsightedness. Overpowered eye in which
parallel light rays from distant objects are
brought to focus in front of the retina. Requires a
minus lens correction to "weaken" the eye optically
and permit clear distance vision. Nuclear
sclerosis. Type of early cataract characterized
by increasing hardness or density at the center of
the eye's crystalline lens. Occurs as a consequence
of aging; usually results in refractive change
toward increasing myopia. Ophthalmology.
Deals with the eye, its function and diseases.
Includes diagnosis and management. Presbyopia.
"Old age vision." Refractive condition in which
there is a diminished power of accommodation
arising from loss of elasticity of the crystalline
lens, as occurs with aging. Usually becomes
significant after age 45. Visual Field
Test. Test that shows the extent of space
visible to an eye as it fixates straight ahead.
Measured in degrees away from fixation. |
Ophthalmologist:
Is a medical doctor (MD or DO) specializing in the
prevention, diagnosis and medical as well as
surgical treatment of vision problems and eye
diseases. The ophthalmologist has completed a
1-year internship after graduation from medical
school and at least 3 years of specialized
ophthalmologic training, called a residency in
ophthalmology. Often, the ophthalmologist has also
completed a fellowship (another 1-2) years of
training after residency in preparation for
practice in a subspecialty area of ophthalmology.
Although the majority of ophthalmologists are
capable of treating the entire spectrum of eye
conditions, some concentrate on conditions related
to one area of the eye only. These ophthalmologists
are called sub-specialists. Doctors who treat eye
and vision difficulties only in children are called
pediatric ophthalmologists. 
Who
can go to Ophthalmic Associates?
The
vision Screening at the Health Fair will test your
eyes for far and near vision. Aside from the
importance of acute distance and near vision for
everyday activities (driving, reading), many health
problems first send signals to you by affecting
your vision, such as diabetes, glaucoma, high blood
pressure. You will receive four results from this
test.
Optometrist:
Is an independent, primary health care provider who
has completed a course of 4 years in optometry
school after 4 years in college. Optometrists are
trained in the prescription of eyeglasses and
contact lenses as well as in the detection of eye
disease. In Alaska, optometrists examine, diagnose,
treat, and manage diseases and disorders of the
visual system, the eye and associated structures.
Optometrists prescribe and/or provide eyeglasses,
contact lenses, low vision aids and vision therapy.
They prescribe medication and treat eye diseases,
but do not perform surgery. 
Optician:
Is an independent professional who has received 2
years of training before being licensed to make
(dispense) eyeglasses and contact lenses according
to prescriptions supplied by an ophthalmologist or
optometrist. 
Acuity,
visual acuity. Measurement. Measure of the
eye's ability to distinguish object details and
shape. Assessed by the smallest identifiable object
that can be seen at a specified distance (usually
20 ft or 16 in). 
Cataract.
Opacity or cloudiness of the crystalline lens; may
prevent a clear image from forming on the retina.
Lens may require surgical removal if visual loss
becomes significant, with lost optical power
replaced with contact lens, aphakic spectacle or
intraocular lens. May be congenital or caused by
trauma, disease or age.
IOL
(intraocular lens). Plastic lens that may be
surgically implanted to replace the natural lens of
eye.