Ophthalmology 

Header is ophthalmology with the background being eyes or like the eye test. What is glaucoma? Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4212-glaucoma In essence glaucoma is an eye disorder caused by a buildup of fluid in the eye. The increase in intraocular eye pressure gradually damages the optic nerve, resulting in blindness. While there is no cure, there are medication and procedures that can help slow the loss of vision. A trabeculectomy is a procedure that can help pateints with glaucoma. It is a filtering surgery in which an opening is made in the sclera (white part of the eye) for additional fluid drainage. I was in the third grade when I got my first pair of glasses. Like a lot of kids, the first sign that I needed glasses came when I had trouble reading the my teacher’s writing on the whiteboard. After a quick look at my eyes, the optometrist told me I have myopia, or more commonly known as nearsightedness. My right eye was –0.25 and my left eye was -0.5. As I’ve grown my vision has gotten worse: my right eyes is a –5.25, and my left eye is –5.5 In my quest to explore different medical specialties, I found the world of ophthalmology. Initially I thought that an ophthalmologist was the same thing as an optometrist, but I quickly learned that they are quite different. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (MD), and an optometrist is not a medical doctor but a Doctor of Optometry (OD). While doctors work together to help provide care for the eyes, but an ophthalmologist “diagnoses and treats all eye diseases, performs eye surgery, and prescribes and fits eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct vision problems” (AAO). With a curiosity in surgery, I reached out to ophthalmologists in my area and asked to shadow them to get an idea on what they do from day to day as well as the various issues that help treat. Fortunately, I was able to shadow and learn from four amazing ophthalmologists: Dr. Conner, Dr. Williams, Dr. Mukhtar, and Dr. Chang. Dr. Conner Monday September 30, 2024 @ UPMC Mercy Vision Insitute. This was my first time ever visiting mercy. When i arrived at the hospital i was in awe at just how new and industrialized everything looked. Insert photo of vision clinic below) I walked into the hospital at 7:00 and was escorted to the second floor where the procedures take place. Before I could step foot into the OR, I had to put on a bunny suit, shoe covers and a hair net. (photo 1). After I changed, the nurse led me back to OR 5. It was a lot smaller than I had expected it to be, but to be fair my only reference was the OR from Grey’s Anatomy. Two machines sat on opposite sides of where the patient's bed would go. The first machine is used during phacoemulsification and the other a microscope. At 7:40 Dr. Conner, his fellow, and his resident began the procedure. First Dr. Conner performed a Trabeculectomy revision, a procedure that “creates a new way for fluid inside your eye to drain, relieving pressure buildup.” While this doesn’t cure glaucoma, it keeps vision from worsening (Cleavland Clinic). During the procedure, patients will get a short active sedative while the eye gets numbed. They often feel like they are in Twighlight during the procedure.