Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems. Since ophthalmologists perform operations on eyes, they are considered to be both surgical and medical specialists.

Ophthalmology includes sub-specialities which deal either with certain diseases or diseases of certain parts of the eye. Some of them are:

  • Anterior segment surgery
  • Retinal ophthalmology, which emphasizes such things as laser treatment of the retina and actual retinal surgery.
  • Cataracts — not usually considered a subspecialty per se, since most general ophthalmologists perform cataract surgery
  • Cornea, ocular surface, and external disease
  • Glaucoma
  • Medical retina, deals with treatment of retinal problems through non-surgical means.
  • Neuro-ophthalmology
  • Ocular oncology
  • Oculoplastics & Orbit surgery
  • Ophthalmic pathology
  • Pediatric ophthalmology/Strabismus (mis-alignment of the eyes)
  • Refractive surgery
  • Uveitis
  • Immunology
  • Veterinary Formal specialty training programs in veterinary ophthalmology now exist in some countries.

Vitreo-retinal surgery, deals with surgical management of retinal and posterior segment diseases and disorders. Medical retina and vitreo-retinal surgery sometimes together called posterior segment subspecialisation.