Ophthalmology is a Greek term where ‘Ophthalmos’ means ‘eye’. So, a doctor who specializes in the branch of eye surgery is generally termed as Ophthalmologist. Ophthalmologists treat any impairment caused in the visual pathways of the eyes. They are the only registered professionals that are eligible to prescribe any medicine for eye diseases and carry out eye surgeries.
Eligibility to Study Ophthalmology in India
Students who study science with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in their 10+2 level are eligible to study Ophthalmology. The marks requirement is different for different colleges and entrance examinations. Mainly, studying Ophthalmology involves pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at first. Only then one can pursue a postgraduate degree in Ophthalmology, i.e. Master of Surgery, Doctor of Medicine.
Career Objective of an Ophthalmologist
If you opt to study Ophthalmology in India, you will study and acquire skills to treat eye disorders like cataracts, partial blindness, and loss of vision. You will also receive training to treat common eye problems like myopia or hyper myopia. The areas on which you are eligible to specialize are Glaucoma, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Ocular Oncology, Anterior Segment Surgery, Cornea, ocular surface and external diseases. Some of the more fields where you can further continue your study and research are Medical Retina, Oculoplastics and Orbit Surgery, Ophthalmic Pathology, Refractive Surgery, Uveitis or Immunology, Veterinary Ophthalmology, and Vitreo-retinal surgery. The main objective of pursuing these courses is to minimize the rate of blindness among the eye patients and provide the Ophthalmology fraternity with pioneering research works. You will also learn how to run your own Ophthalmology Clinics, and become a teacher or researcher.
A good Ophthalmologist is the one, who is very attentive to details, has manual dexterity, an eye for minute details, and are willing to make a difference by providing alluring eye care facilities to the society.
Courses Available in India
There are various medical colleges and universities that offer scrupulous Ophthalmology courses. To study in a reputed medical college in India, you need to qualify in medical entrance examinations like NEET (National Eligibility Entrance Test), AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Science). There are other states and national universities that also conduct their separate medical entrance examinations. Some of the well-known colleges that offer Ophthalmology courses are Amrita School of Medicine, Armed Forces Medical College, Maulana Azad Medical College, Jawaharlal Nehru Postgraduate Medical and Research, Christian Medical College, D.Y. Patil Medical College, and Indraprastha University, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, King George’s Medical University, and Madras Medical College.
Job Opportunities and Career Prospect
There is a heavy demand for Ophthalmologists in each – Government sector and private sector hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare centers. Different NGOs, missionary and charitable hospitals also require Ophthalmologists highly. There are many PSU hospitals that regularly hire Ophthalmologists. Railway Hospitals, Defence Hospitals, are the other options. You can join these sectors and work. The pay scale of Ophthalmologists is also good. They earn around INR 60K to INR INR 1 lakh at the start of their career. You can also join the medical industry of any other country like USA, UK, Australia, and Gulf Countries. As you gain experience, you can also work in the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
