the Forth Valley Sensory Centre newsletter - Falkirk Council

Services
This edition of the newsletter finds out more about the different roles in
the eye clinic as well as an interview with one of the Ophthalmologists,
Dr Jennifer Gillen.
Ophthalmology Services in NHS Forth Valley
Who’s who in the Eye Clinic
When you visit the eye or ophthalmology clinic
you may meet and be examined by a number of
different professionals, who all have different roles
in the ophthalmology team. Confusingly, they all
have names beginning with O which are derived
from their Greek root words (ophthalmology
comes from the Greek word ophthalmos meaning
eye).
The team work together to carry out all sorts of tests and procedures
designed to gather information to help to make a diagnosis, carry out
treatment and to help a patient to make the most of their vision.
Ophthalmologist (from the Greek words ophthalmos meaning eye and
logos meaning thought, therefore "the science of eyes”)
An ophthalmologist is a specialist doctor in medical and surgical eye
problems. They do a traditional medical degree and then spend about 6-
8 years training in caring for people with eye disorders. Most
ophthalmologists see patients with a wide range of eye problems and
their work involves a mixture of outpatient clinics and surgical
procedures. Many also sub-specialise and develop a deeper knowledge
of one particular group of disorders. As well as ophthalmology
consultants the medical team includes Associate Specialist Doctors, and
doctors working under supervision at various stages of their specialist
training.
Optometrist (from opsis meaning view and metron meaning measure)
Optometrists are healthcare professionals who are concerned with
Forth Valley Sensory Centre Newsletter - Autumn Edition Page 12