In short
- Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialise in eye and vision care, including eye surgery.
- Most eye problems need a hands-on examination, so a video call is for advice and triage.
- A red eye that does not hurt and does not affect your sight is usually not serious.
- Sudden flashes, floaters, a dark curtain or loss of vision needs urgent care the same day.
Eye symptoms that need help now
Go to an emergency department or call 998 for sudden changes in your sight, an injury or something stuck in your eye, a chemical in your eye, severe eye pain with a headache and feeling sick, or a red eye that hurts to look at light. Do not drive yourself.
Sudden floaters, flashes of light, a dark shadow moving across your vision or suddenly blurred vision can mean a detached retina. This has to be treated quickly to stop it permanently affecting your sight, so seek urgent care and do not wait for a booked appointment.
Ophthalmologist, optometrist or optician?
| Professional | What they do |
|---|---|
| Ophthalmologist | A medical doctor who diagnoses and treats eye disease and performs eye surgery |
| Optometrist | Carries out routine eye and vision care, such as sight tests |
| Optician | Fits and supplies glasses and lenses |
For routine vision changes, you may not need an ophthalmologist at all. Cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and problems with the retina are the kind of conditions that bring people to one.
Why most of this has to happen in person
Checking the back of your eye, measuring the pressure inside it and testing your sight properly all need clinic equipment. Glaucoma is a good example. It does not usually have symptoms and is usually picked up during routine eye tests, so a conversation could never find it. Cataract treatment means surgery, which is done at a hospital or eye clinic.
What a video visit can do is listen to your symptoms, look at a clear photo and help you work out how soon to be seen. It can also help you talk through a diagnosis or a plan for surgery you have already been given.
Everyday conjunctivitis often gets better in a couple of weeks. A pharmacist can help with it, and a doctor may be able to advise by video. See a doctor if your symptoms have not cleared up within 7 days. Babies with red, sticky eyes should be seen, urgently if they are less than 30 days old.
Preparing for the call
- Take a clear photo of the eye in daylight, looking straight ahead and with the eyelid gently lifted if it is comfortable.
- Tell the doctor if you wear contact lenses. Take them out, and do not use them until you have had advice.
- Note whether your vision has changed, and try each eye separately.
- Bring your latest glasses prescription, your eye test results and any eye drops you use.
- Mention diabetes, high blood pressure or previous eye surgery.
Ophthalmologists listed on medicAI work at independent facilities licensed by DHA or DoH, and care comes from them. Expect a recommendation to visit an eye clinic in many cases.
Ophthalmology doctors on medicAI
These doctors work with independent licensed facilities. See all doctors.
Questions people ask
Can an eye doctor examine me over video?
Only in a limited way. A doctor can look at the outside of your eye and listen to your symptoms, but checking the back of the eye and the pressure inside it needs clinic equipment.
Are floaters an emergency?
Floaters that appear suddenly or suddenly increase in number, flashes of light, or a shadow across your vision can be signs of a detached retina. Seek urgent medical help the same day.
When is a red eye serious?
A red eye is more likely to be serious if it hurts, if it is sensitive to light, if your sight changes, if you have injured it, or if you also have a severe headache and feel sick. These need emergency care.
Sources and further reading
- What Is an Ophthalmologist vs Optometrist? (AAO)
- Red eye (NHS)
- Detached retina (retinal detachment) (NHS)
- Glaucoma (NHS)
- Cataracts in adults (NHS)
- Conjunctivitis (NHS)
Read next
medicAI is not for emergencies. If someone is seriously ill or injured, call 998 or go to the nearest hospital.
This page is general information. It does not replace advice from a doctor who knows your situation. medicAI is a technology platform. Care is given by independent licensed facilities, who are responsible for it and for its outcome.
