Both ophthalmologists and optometrists are professionals responsible for the visual health of their patients. However, both professions possess critical differences. An ophthalmologist is a clinical doctor in charge of diagnosing and treating eye-related diseases; while an optometrist is a professional who helps correct refractive alterations and aid in the diagnosis of some eye diseases. We visit an optometrist when we have visual problems that can be corrected through the use of lenses. Sometimes, if the optometrist suspects of any eye disease, they may refer us to an ophthalmologist.
It is very important to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist if you have any of the following symptoms:
Sudden loss of central vision, blurred vision or a significant increase in floating spots (floaters) are symptoms that should be treated immediately, even if they are not accompanied by pain. You should visit an emergency room if you have vision changes accompanied by light sensitivity, pain and/or redness.
It is recommended to visit the ophthalmologist at least once a year, since there are eye diseases that do not cause any symptoms. This is especially important in children, since they do not usually notice or talk about their visual problems. This preventative measure helps take care of the visual health of patients of all ages and thus avoid complications that could potentially compromise vision. In addition, it is also important to visit the ophthalmologist during the first trimester of pregnancy or when diagnosed with diabetes.
When should I visit an ophthalmologist sub-specialized in ocular immunology and uveitis?
Prompt diagnosis and treatment are critical factors that determine the prognosis of uveitis cases. The earlier a patient is properly evaluated, the lower the risk of complications and vision loss. However, many people who experience symptoms of uveitis for the first time often delay visiting an ophthalmologist or emergency room, especially if they are pain-free. Symptoms that do not impede the normal performance of daily functions or cause pain do not induce a sense of urgency in most people. A specific example of this are patients who experience vision changes in one eye for the first time, without pain, without redness and who can still preserve normal vision on the other eye. In these particular cases, symptoms may commonly be attributed to fatigue or some insignificant discomfort. They may even assume that the symptoms will go away on their own or with the help of some eye drops from the drug store. This ends up causing a delay in their diagnosis that could extend over days, weeks or even months. Delay in seeking appropriate medical care is often characteristic in cases of uveitis and one of the main reasons associated with the risk of vision loss. Uveitis is a medical emergency. Therefore, it is extremely important to visit an emergency room or seek medical attention promptly when symptoms associated with ocular inflammation occur.
The following are three common circumstances that prompt seeking medical attention:
1. If you have symptoms and suspect that they may be suggestive of uveitis, it is advisable to visit an emergency room. If you are diagnosed with uveitis, you should be referred to an ophthalmologist subspecialized in ocular immunology and uveitis.
2. If you just started develoingp eye symptoms and have been previously diagnosed with any of the following diseases, it is advisable to visit an emergency room: arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Cohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, lupus, psoriasis, sarcoidosis, mixed connective tissue disease, Behcet's disease, Kawasaki disease, multiple sclerosis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Lyme disease, syphilis, tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis or mononucleosis. In addition, you should also visit an emergency room if you have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease or have tattoos, especially if they are also inflamed. If you are diagnosed with uveitis, you should be referred to an ophthalmologist subspecialized in ocular immunology and uveitis.
3. If you have been diagnosed with uveitis by an ophthalmologist or optometrist in their private practice, it is very important that you are referred to a subspecialist in ocular immunology and uveitis. Uveitis is easy to diagnose, but requires specialized management by a professional in this field of health care. If you have changes in your vision but are still not sure if you should seek medical attention, you may visit the following page. It contains simulations of the visual disturbances associated with uveitis: VISION SIMULATOR
Uveitis in the pediatric population
Pediatric uveitis presents particular challenges unique to this population due to the age of patients. Factors that compromise the prognosis of pediatric cases are a delayed diagnosis and an increased risk for the development of complications. Children still in their preverbal stage cannot, for obvious reasons, verbalize their symptoms and may never even present eye problems noticeable to others. On the other hand, it is not uncommon for pediatric uveitis to develop asymptomatically (without producing symptoms) or to be so mild that children are unable to articulate their visual changes.These complexities regarding the emergence and development of uveitis in the pediatric population are the primary reasons for a delayed medical evaluation with an ophthalmologist. Untreated pediatric ocular inflammation may lead to very severe complications that end up permanently affecting vision, even if it is minimal. In such cases, it is not uncommon for these patients to already exhibit ocular complications once they present to the doctor's office for the first time. These complications are often the reasons for primary caregivers to seek medical care, as they are noticeable to others. Some initial noticeable symptoms include redness, sensitivity to light (photophobia) or eye pain. Some serious or even irremediable complications may also arise. Uveitis is a disease that can be managed, but this depends on prompt diagnosis and treatment. It may develop asymptomatically both for patients and for the people around them. Its diagnosis requires evaluation by an ophthalmologist. In the pediatric population, uveitis tends to cause more severe complications than in adults. Therefore, timely diagnosis and appropriate management is extremely important.
An important aspect that primary caregivers may notice in children who begin to present with eye problems without showing noticeable symptoms are changes in body or facial language. Children may exhibit certain signs such as frequent stumbling, frowning, squinting while reading or studying, difficulty in doing hobbies, etc. Their teachers may also notice some changes in their behavior during class. Prevention is key in the management of any case of uveitis, but especially in children. An annual visit to the ophthalmologist greatly helps detect early development of uveitis or any other ocular disease. On the other hand, children who have already been diagnosed with uveitis or arthritis should be routinely evaluated by a subspecialist in ocular immunology and uveitis.
Why should I visit an emergency room?
The mere thought of visiting an emergency room is not pleasant for anyone, especially when you are not experiencing symptoms that are painful or impede your normal day to day activities. However, uveitis is a medical emergency even when there is no pain, discomfort or any other symptoms. The prognosis of this disease highly depends on prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Delayed medical attention is quite common in cases of uveitis. Many people may make an initial appointment with an ocular immunology and uveitis sub-specialist at the onset of symptoms to avoid going to the emergency room. However, initial appointments in private practices may take weeks or months. Therefore, visiting an emergency room not only ensures early medical evaluation, but also expedites referral to a sub-specialist when required. Ocular inflammation that is not treated in time may lead to irremediable complications that can be successfully prevented by early evaluation by a sub-specialist in ocular immunology and uveitis.
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