Eye clinic businesses in Zambia

Eye clinics provide eye injury treatment, disease treatment, and eye care advice. Typical cases that are seen and helped are cataracts, glaucoma, refractive errors, corneal and conjunctival diseases. These eye care delivery clinics in Zambia serve a great need. The services include medical and surgical care for those afflicted with eye diseases; training programs; outreach programs for school screening, diagnostic and treatment services; and education to increase the awareness of blindness as a major public health issue. Find the eye centre in Zambia with specialist ophthalmologists dedicated to the diagnosis and management of eye diseases.

Choosing an eye clinic

Choosing an eye care provider is an important health care decision. After all, you will be trusting your eye doctor to safeguard your precious sense of sight and help you maintain a lifetime of good vision. The first step in your decision is to understand that there are two types of eye doctors: optometrists and ophthalmologists. And there is a third "O" among eye care providers: the optician. Optometrists and ophthalmologists both perform routine eye exams and both types of eye doctors are trained to detect, diagnose and manage eye diseases that require medical and non-medical treatment. Finally, a major factor you should consider when choosing an eye doctor is the recommendation of that doctor by friends, family members or coworkers. Word-of-mouth referrals often are the best way to find a friendly, competent and caring eye doctor and avoid unpleasant surprises when you go to have your eyes examined.

Eye clinic services in Zambia:

Comprehensive eye examinations

Eye clinics evaluate your internal and external eye health, check for glaucoma, cataracts and eye problems associated with diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. Annual eye exams are recommended.

Training

Postponement of treating eye problems is often the result of poor infrastructure and an insufficient number of qualified people. At this time there is a shortage of eye care professionals in Zambia. Some clinics offer training for the local people, at every level, which is the most lasting and structural solution to ensure eye care for everyone. Who are trained?

• Health care professionals: are the most important link between the patient and the clinic. They inform people, detect eye problems and refer people to the clinic.
• Opticians: they determine if glasses would help the person and if necessary make the glasses.
• Ophthalmic nurses and optometrists: They can independently treat simple eye problems and determine if a cataract operation is necessary, they also give valuable information to people.
• Eye doctors and ophthalmological clinical specialists: can determine what needs to be done and do it. Treatment could be giving medicine as well as performing a cataract operation or eyelid surgery.
• Low vision specialists: an ophthalmic nurse can lead a rehabilitation program for people with untreatable eye conditions.

Optometrist in Zambia

In Zambia, an optometrist is an eye doctor who has earned the Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree. Optometrists examine eyes for both vision and health problems and correct refractive errors by prescribing eyeglasses and contact lenses. Some optometrists also provide low vision care and vision therapy.

Ophthalmologist in Zambia

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (MD) or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) who specializes in eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists are trained to perform eye exams, diagnose and treat disease, prescribe medications and perform eye surgery. They also write prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Optician in Zambia

An optician is not an eye doctor, but opticians are an important part of your eye care team. Opticians use prescriptions written by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist to fit and sell eyeglasses and other eyewear. If your eyes are healthy and don't require specialized medical or surgical treatment, the type of eye doctor you choose for a routine eye exam is a matter of personal preference.

The following are just some of the signs or risk factors for eye disease. If you have any of these, be sure to visit an ophthalmologist. A complete, medical eye exam could be the first step towards saving your sight.

• Bulging of one or both eyes
• Dark curtain or veil that blocks your vision
• Decreased vision, even if temporary
• Diabetes mellitus
• Distorted vision
• Double vision
• Excess tearing
• Eyelid abnormalities
• Family history of eye disease
• Halos (coloured circles around lights)
• High blood pressure
• Injury to the eye
• Loss of peripheral (side) vision
• Misaligned eyes
• New floaters (black "strings" or specks in the vision) and/or flashes of light
• Pain in the eye
• Thyroid disease-related eye problems (Graves' disease)
• Unusual red eye