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Are ophthalmologists considered surgeons?
AJ
AJ
Quick, dumb and painless question...
- Thread starter ajnak182
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Ophthalmology is officially a surgical subspecialty, so yes they are bona fide surgeons. But in reality who really cares if other surgeons don't think you are a surgeon because you chose to do ophtho? Most of the surgeons who think ophthos aren't "real" surgeons are usually saying it out of jealousy either because: (1) They couldn't get into ophtho and had to settle for regular old general surgery or (2) They don't want to believe that a "real" surgeon can have cush hours like most ophthos do and still make great money.
Ophthos perform complex operations on one of the body's most delicate and essential organs, so of course they're surgeons. Just because most of them don't work like slaves and don't have limited social and family lives like most other surgeons does not make them any less of a surgeon.
Ophthos perform complex operations on one of the body's most delicate and essential organs, so of course they're surgeons. Just because most of them don't work like slaves and don't have limited social and family lives like most other surgeons does not make them any less of a surgeon.
An opthamologist is just as much of a surgeon as an endodontist.
If we're calling everyone a surgeon now, how about an orthodontist, interventional radiologist, interventional cardiologist.
No opthamology is not surgery in my opinion.
But why should it matter, what anyone else thinks, if you like optho, than do that. If you have some deep inner need for acceptance or power or some BS like that and want people to think your important than choose another specialty -- I suggest, CT-surgery or neurosurg.
PS. AS is a tool.
If we're calling everyone a surgeon now, how about an orthodontist, interventional radiologist, interventional cardiologist.
No opthamology is not surgery in my opinion.
But why should it matter, what anyone else thinks, if you like optho, than do that. If you have some deep inner need for acceptance or power or some BS like that and want people to think your important than choose another specialty -- I suggest, CT-surgery or neurosurg.
PS. AS is a tool.
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You are AS. I can't prove that, but it sure looks like you and AS are one in the same.
When an ophthalmologist operates on a patient's eyes, for example, to correct strabismus, you're saying that's not surgery? What is it then, physical therapy?
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Yes, opthomology is surgery. It's just not usually as "messy" as most other surgeries are. And it's nearly all outpatient surgeries and lots more clinic than most surgical specialties, so there's much less inpatient post-op management than other surgeons have to deal with.
But it's still a surgical specialty - they go to the operating room and do sterile invasive procedures, so I'm not sure how anyone can say they are not surgeons??? The arguement about cardiology and IR...they do invasive procedures, but NOT in the operating room, and they don't actually cut and remove parts of the body like an opthomologist does with cataracts, strabismus, etc. I guess cutting and moving/removing things constitutes a surgeon to me...But I would not call a Dermatologist a surgeon, and they cut and remove things...so maybe there's more to it than that. Maybe it's the sterile OR working environment that sways me into calling optho surgeons.
By the way, I'm a general surgery resident, not an optho wanna-be, so my unbiased opinion should hopefully be granted some legitimacy.
But it's still a surgical specialty - they go to the operating room and do sterile invasive procedures, so I'm not sure how anyone can say they are not surgeons??? The arguement about cardiology and IR...they do invasive procedures, but NOT in the operating room, and they don't actually cut and remove parts of the body like an opthomologist does with cataracts, strabismus, etc. I guess cutting and moving/removing things constitutes a surgeon to me...But I would not call a Dermatologist a surgeon, and they cut and remove things...so maybe there's more to it than that. Maybe it's the sterile OR working environment that sways me into calling optho surgeons.
By the way, I'm a general surgery resident, not an optho wanna-be, so my unbiased opinion should hopefully be granted some legitimacy.
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There was a similar thread a few months ago. The recurring themes were:
Ophtho as surgeon: They cut in the OR, therefore must be surgeon.
Ophtho as non-surgeon: They don't do a Surgical internship (at least they don't have to).
That summarizes the previous argument.
Ophtho as surgeon: They cut in the OR, therefore must be surgeon.
Ophtho as non-surgeon: They don't do a Surgical internship (at least they don't have to).
That summarizes the previous argument.
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If you don't think that Dermatologists are sugeons, then you have clearly never been in a sterile OR with one as he/she does a 6 hour excision of a Carcinoma or a Melanoma. It can get pretty messy in there - messier than, say, an Opthamology OR.
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Hmmmm...so where do OBGYN's fit into all of this?
