What does an eye clinic do? And where can you find an eye clinic in the US?

An eye clinic is usually run by a single MD or group of MDs who have specialised in the treatment of various eye diseases and eye conditions.

Some of the commonest eye diseases are macular degeneration (often age related), cataracts (again more often in the elderly), detached retina, torn retina, various dry eye conditions, glaucoma, various infections of the eye, floaters and flashes in the eye, amblyopia (usually described as lazy eye), blepharitis, chalazion and styes, corneal ulcers, presbyopia, conjunctivitis, refractive errors.

The eye clinic will also advise on using various resources to improve vision. They will carry out refractive surgery to correct vision defects, advise on childrens eyes, provide nutrition advise for health eyes, advise on the best way to care for and help your eyes in strain of the high tech computer world.

To find a good Eye Clinic you can ring the Department of Opthalmology at your nearest Hospital or Medical University, make contact with your local county association of Optometrists. You should also make contact with your Health Plan insurance company to find which Eye Clinics are on their list.

The following resources should also be helpful

• The American Academy of Ophthalmology runs a Locate an Eye Clinic – which is an on-line listing of ophthalmologists who have Eye Clinics in the States and abroad. This service is designed to help the general public locate ophthalmologists within a specific region. This service is available via website: http://www.aao.org/eyemd_disclaimer.cfm.

• The American Optometric Association offers Dr. Locator, an online listing of optometrist eye clinics. This service is designed to help the general public locate optometrists and eye clinics within a specific region. This service is available via website: http://www.aoa.org.

• The International Society of Refractive Surgery maintains comprehensive directory of surgeons around the world who are currently performing refractive surgery. Telephone: (415) 561-8581. Website: http://www.locateanisrsdoctor.com/.

• Administrators in Medicine and the Association of State Medical Board Executive Directors have launched DocFinder, an online database that helps consumers learn whether any malpractice actions have been taken against a particular doctor. The site provides links to the licensing boards in the participating states. This service is available via website: http://www.docboard.org/.

• The American Medical Association’s Physician Select provides basic professional information on virtually every licensed physician in the United States and its territories. You can limit your search to include only ophthalmologists. This service is available via website: http://www.ama-assn.org/aps/amahg.htm.

• WebMD Physician Directory allows the public to search a national database of over 500,000 physicians for the purpose of finding a doctor who meets specific needs. Website: http://doctor.webmd.com/physician_finder/home.aspx?sponsor=core.

Your eyes are vital, if you suspect any type of disease to your eyes you must consult an Eye Clinic at the earliest opportunity.