How to Become an Eye Specialist: Education, Training & Career Path Explained

Eyesight is crucial for an easier and smoother life; it controls the quality of life, hence its criticality.
Regardless of its importance, patients are urged to visit an ophthalmologist when severe problems arise.
Therefore, Mo Academy focuses on the importance of spreading eye health awareness.
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing, treating, and performing surgeries
for different eye conditions. They are responsible for setting a protocol that helps to protect and maintain your eyesight.
Yet, their expertise does not stop at prescribing medications, for they are capable of intervening surgically
when needed for different eye diseases.
For instance, they can apply Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery, Phaco Eye Surgery,and retina and vitreous surgery.
Their crucial role does not only affect the health of the eye as through the eye,
ophthalmologists are capable of detecting systemic diseases such as diabetes and other conditions.
Certain diseases show signs through the eyes. The need for eye specialists grows every day.
This is based on many reasons, including but not limited to the continuous progress of the eye care field
and the need for more research from its members.

Additionally, the number of needed eye experts relies on the number of aging populations who tend
to suffer from a variant number of eye issues.
Public sectors including government and university hospitals are considered the main eye care providers in Egypt.
The Universal Health Insurance Law aims to expand coverage to citizens’s eye care by 2032,
which leaves more space for ophthalmologists to join the field every day.
The same concept goes for the private sector.
If you are an individual who wants to become an eye specialist, Mo Academy is your mentor here.
Buckle up, for through this article, you will get to know who the consultant ophthalmologist is and how
to become a certified eye specialist step by step.

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specialist and Ophthalmology Specialty Training.

Who Is a Consultant Ophthalmologist & What Do They Do?

A consultant ophthalmologist is considered a senior eye doctor who takes over the whole process of diagnosis,
treating, and managing the different eye conditions as a whole.
Consultant ophthalmologists are fully trained and certified ophthalmologists who have done extensive
medical education and specialty training. Get ready to dissect what a consultant ophthalmologist does in detail.

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Diagnose Eye Conditions:

The consultant ophthalmologist is responsible for diagnosing the different eye conditions.
They are trained to use the most advanced tools to detect them.
For instance, they use slit-lamp examination, OCT scans, and visual field tests.
Also, these tools help them identify critical eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration,
diabetic retinopathy, and eye infections.

Subspecialty Expertise:

Many consultant ophthalmologists try to concentrate their expertise in a certain ophthalmic eye specialty
such as Pediatric ophthalmology, Oculoplastics, Corneal diseases, and Neuro-ophthalmology.

Medical & Surgical Treatment:

They are responsible for prescribing medical treatments and medications. Medications can be oral drugs
or eye drops. On the other side, eye specialists also perform eye surgeries such as Cataract surgery,
Retinal surgery, Corneal transplants, and Laser treatments for glaucoma or diabetic eye disease.

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How to Become a Certified Eye Specialist? (Step by Step Guide)

Complete Secondary Education:

You must have earned your secondary certificate with a high GPA as this field is of a competitive nature.
Additionally, your academic results must be strong in science-related subjects such as biology, chemistry, and physics.

Earn a Medical Degree:

Medical school is your real mentor when you want to know how to become an eye specialist.
After you get admitted into medical school, within 5-6 years, you need to earn your bachelor of Medicine,
Bachelor of Surgery, MBBS/MBChB, from a recognized university.
Recognized universities’ names help within your portfolio and CV to attract better opportunities.
Within these years, you will be exposed to both: theoretical knowledge and clinical rotations.
In well-reputable universities, you will learn under the supervision of veterans within the eye field
as well as observe their surgeries to learn the most advanced methods and techniques.

Complete Foundation Training:

There are 2 years of training, known as FY1 and FY2, that have to be done after graduating.
During this, you will work as a junior eye doctor in different subspecialties.

Apply for Specialty Training in Ophthalmology:

Through a national recruitment, you will apply for a specialty in ophthalmology.
When accepted, you will enter the Ophthalmic Specialist Training, also known as OST.
Through this specialty training, you will truly know how to become an eye specialist.
You will learn the different surgical skills, medical management for the different eye diseases,
and advanced examinations and assessments at various stages.

Pass Royal College Examinations:

Eventually, to become certified, you must pass the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, also known as RCOphth.
You will go through a series of tests within these examinations.
They include written exams, skill testing in the different surgical procedures, and lens prescribing.

Conclusion:

Since by now you must know how to become an eye specialist, you must know the sensitivity of an ophthalmologist’s
position as well as the reasons behind the growing need for figures within the eye care field.
This intensifies the endless opportunities waiting for you in the ophthalmic field. Within the previous lines,
Mo Academy has introduced who the consultant ophthalmologist is as well as their main tasks in detail.
Additionally, you have been provided a step-by-step guide to follow if you want to know how to become
an eye specialist. Mo Academy’s services in the eye field expand every day to ensure proper knowledge
delivery and coverage for the different subspecialties and technologies within the ophthalmic field.

If you still have concerns related to how to become an eye specialist, or if you have any other query
in the eye care field, you guessed it right. All you need to do is Contact Us.

How to Become an Eye Specialist