What does an ophthalmologist do?

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats eye diseases, performs surgeries, and provides vision care, including prescription of glasses or contact lenses.

When should I see an eye specialist?

You should see an eye specialist if you're experiencing blurry vision, eye pain, frequent headaches, floaters, light sensitivity, or routine vision check-ups.

Can I consult an ophthalmologist online via myAster?

Yes, you can book a secure video consultation with licensed ophthalmologists through myAster for certain eye issues or follow-up care.

Do Aster Clinics offer eye exams and surgeries?

Yes, Aster Clinics across the UAE offer comprehensive eye exams, treatments for eye conditions, and minor surgical procedures performed by experienced ophthalmologists.

Are ophthalmology services covered by insurance?

Many ophthalmology services at Aster Clinics are covered under UAE health insurance plans. It's best to confirm with your provider before booking.

How do I book an appointment with an eye doctor on myAster?

Visit the Ophthalmology section on myAster, choose your preferred eye doctor, and book an appointment for a video consultation or in-clinic visit.

The UAE’s best eye specialists, all in one platform.

Ophthalmology is the specific field of medicine that involves treatment of the eye’s anatomy, structure, and physiology. It is the specialty you will find at an eye clinic near you, along with optometrists and opticians.

Medical conditions involving the eye come in various forms, as do the eye specialists that treat them. It can be confusing to distinguish ophthalmologists from optometrists and opticians, who also operate along similar lines. Knowing which eye doctor to consult is important in getting on track for ideal treatment and recovery.

An ophthalmologist is a medical practitioner trained and licensed to provide treatment for all types of eye conditions and ailments. They can perform eye surgery and prescribe a wide range of medication to provide effective treatment for issues.

The natural question then follows: if ophthalmology is the most comprehensive eye specialization, then where do optometrists and opticians fit into this equation? The simple answer is to think of it as a cascading hierarchy.

- An ophthalmologist can treat all types of eye problems through all available modes of treatment, including surgical techniques.

- An optometrist is an eye specialist who can provide medical consultation for various eye disorders and conditions, including eyesight-related issues. However, they are not medical professionals and cannot perform eye surgery.

- An optician is an eye-related professional who can assist you in selecting ideal lenses and other optical instruments to improve your vision. Though they usually work adjacent to eye clinics, they are not medical professionals, and cannot prescribe treatment of any kind.

In the UAE, there is a vast array of eye specialists that you can consult for your specific eye issue. Every ophthalmologist undergoes rigorous training in tackling a plethora of eye-related ailments. These include:

-> Degenerative disorders: Eye specialists are experts in treating disorders that cause gradual degeneration of the eye and its finer structures. A common example of this disorder is macular degeneration.

-> Vision-related disorders: Ophthalmologists are also licensed to offer treatment for issues like myopia (near-sightedness), hypermetropia (far-sightedness), presbyopia, and astigmatism. Eye specialists in Dubai can offer specific prescriptions for eyesight corrective lenses and spectacles.

-> Eye function-related issues: The best eye doctors in Dubai can also offer treatment for issues such as eye dryness, eye infections and other physiological problems you may be facing in your eyes. This also includes conditions such as glaucoma, cataract, optic nerve disease, and uveitis.

-> Detachment-related issues: Additionally, eye doctors treat structural injuries in the eye, such as retinal detachment and other eye trauma that impairs vision.

Through Aster’s myAster platform, you can easily access the best ophthalmologists in Dubai in a single interface. You gain seamless access to video consultation as well, putting your convenience foremost. Before you solicit consultation from an eye doctor in Dubai, however, it is crucial to take stock of your signs and symptoms to aid your ophthalmologist for a streamlined diagnosis.

When to visit an eye specialist in Dubai?

Your eyes are extremely sensitive, and susceptible to long-term damage even from minor injuries if left unattended. Therefore, in a general sense, any issue in the eye that is causing you significant discomfort requires medical attention at the earliest.

Aside from eye-related emergencies, you should also visit an eye clinic in Dubai for regular eye exams.

-> Ideally, adults with healthy vision and eyes should go for an eye checkup once every decade (in your 20s, 30s, 40s, and so on).

-> Senior citizens need to visit their ophthalmologist more frequently, with checkups every other year after age 65.

-> You also need to visit your ophthalmologist in Dubai if you are at a higher risk for eye disease, due to factors such as family history and previous instances of eye infection and pre-existing diseases.

It is also advisable to visit ophthalmologists if you are already undergoing specific treatment for your eye. This includes non-medical corrective methods, such as the usage of contact lenses.

If you suspect something may be unusual with your eyes, it is usually best to take account of the source of irritation. Some telltale signs to watch out for include:

-> Swelling/inflammation in the eye

-> Sudden blurriness in vision in an eye

-> Frequent pain/sensitivity in an eye

-> Episodes of vision loss in an eye, no matter how brief

In case of these symptoms, please consult an eye specialist near you at once. With myAster, you can get access to the best ophthalmologists in UAE based on your unique preferences, such as languages spoken by the practitioner, clinic location, among other parameters. In a few simple clicks, you can instantly access a comprehensive list of the best eye doctors.

Common treatments & procedures

Treatment procedures that concern the eye usually span a wide range of methods, each with their own purposes for diagnosis and eye relief. Our best eye doctors in Dubai at Aster provide best-in-class medical treatment, with no stone unturned in terms of care given to the patient.

Some of the common eye diagnosis and treatment methods for common eye ailments include:

-> Visual acuity exam: This is a common eye exam that your ophthalmologist (or even optometrist) will conduct to ensure your eyes can focus on specific objects. Based on your results, you will receive a prescription for your glasses from your eye specialist.

-> Glaucoma exam: If your ophthalmologist suspects a possibility of glaucoma, you might be advised to take a glaucoma test. This simple eye exam can help accurately diagnose the potential risk of glaucoma in a patient.

-> Eye fundus test: ophthalmologists can also perform tests to examine the rear portion of your eye (the retina and optic nerve). This is performed through pupil dilation, and is a simple, painless procedure. It is done for diabetic retinopathy, muscular degeneration, optic nerve disease, and uveitis.

-> Color acuity test: This test is performed by ophthalmologists to ensure you can perceive and distinguish color accurately. This is a simple test that involves inspecting a series of colored images and answering straightforward questions.

-> Peripheral/stereopsis tests: These types of tests are centered around accurately assessing the precision of your visual capabilities, often with specific focuses such as 3D vision and visual field tests by perimetry.

You can view the best ophthalmologists in Dubai through a streamlined interface on myAster. With unique features and filters such as video consultation, you can get the best treatment from our wide range of the best specialists across various eye clinics in UAE.

Visit the myAster portal today to experience innovative eye consultation procedures like never before.

Ophthalmology