A 30-year-old member asked:
Can a physicians assistant be specialized in ophthalmology?
5 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in
Dr. Mark Goldenanswered
Ophthalmology 43 years experience
Physician assistants: Duties of physician assistant is dependent on the laws of each state. Most pa's working in ophthalmology would be working in close conjunction with a team of ophthalmologists. Typical duties may include part of the examination or assisting in surgery.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Daniel Schainholz commented
Ophthalmology 36 years experience
Realistically, a paramedical interested in the eyes usually goes to a school of optometry. The surgical field in ophthalmology rarely requires an extra pair of hands, and when it does, another ophthalmologist is preferable.
Oct 6, 2013
Dr. Abdul Khananswered
Ophthalmology 26 years experience
Physician assistant: Yes. A pa can work for alongside an ophthalmologist as an ophthalmology pa. But there is no formal specialization training program for pa, like residency for physicians.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Aaron Cohnanswered
Ophthalmology 18 years experience
Yes: a PA can specialize in ophthalmology. However, in my experience PA are utilized most often in the OR. I have met one ophthalmology PA in my career.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Ron Lordanswered
Ophthalmology - Retinal Surgery 17 years experience
Ophthalmologic PA: They certainly can. And I have heard of this before. However, ver uncommon. A PA will receive very little ophthalmologic training in school. And few would permit them to do procedures under an ophthalmologist. Then they would do glasses and refractions only and a few medical prescriptions. And this is basically what an optometrist does.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Bruce Starkanswered
Ophthalmology 49 years experience
Not really: A physician assistant can treat certain eye conditions just like a NP but does not specialize in eye diseases. The training is much more limited than an optometrist or ophthalmologist. They are also limited in what they can prescribe.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
574 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Nov 10, 2018
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