Ophthalmology is an exciting and rapidly advancing
field. Our understanding of ocular anatomy, physiology
and pathology has increased considerably over
the last few decades. The treatment of eye disease has
developed enormously with significant innovations
in microsurgery, pharmacology and laser treatment.
With these developments have come advances in the
techniques we use to examine the eye, the orbit and
the structural and functional integrity of the visual
pathway.
Despite this rapid progress it remains as important
as ever to understand how to use both old and
new examination techniques to arrive at an accurate
diagnosis with the minimum of inconvenience to
the patient and the greatest degree of accuracy. It is
also important to learn how to communicate with
other specialists who may be involved in the
investigation of ophthalmic disease, to appreciate
what information they require to tailor their work. A
complete understanding of the shortcomings of the
equipment or test procedures is also vital if the
results are to be interpreted correctly and given
the correct weight in arriving at a diagnosis or
developing a treatment plan