Ophthalmology involves the treatment of the eye and vision disorders. An ophthalmologist is a physician who diagnoses and treats eye disorders and diseases, and sometimes performs eye surgery. Ophthalmology is more than just vision care. This specialist is trained to medically or surgically treat all ocular and vision problems, including disorders of the eyelids and visual pathways. The ophthalmologist also provides comprehensive vision exams and prescribes glasses and contact lenses.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Alabama has 269 practicing ophthalmologists. Broken out by city, ophthalmology doctor density in Alabaster is 5, in Albertville is 2, in Alexander City is 1, in Andalusia is 12, in Anniston is 6, in Ashland is 3, in Athens is 1, in Atmore is 3, in Auburn is 5, in Bessemer is 3, in Birmingham is 112, in Boaz is 1, in Brewton is 1, in Butler is 3, in Childersburg is 1, in Cullman is 5, in Daphne is 5, in Decatur is 2, in Demopolis is 1, in Dothan is 22, in Enterprise is 5, in Eufaula is 1, in Fairhope is 8, in Fayette is 1, in Florence is 12, in Foley is 6, in Fort Payne is 1, in Gadsden is 18, in Guntersville is 2, in Haleyville is 1, in Hoover is 1, in Huntsville is 26, in Jackson is 1, in Jasper is 2, in Marion is 2, in Maxwell Afb is 1, in Mobile is 32, in Montgomery is 21, in Muscle Shoals is 2, in Oneonta is 3, in Opelika is 4, in Pell City is 3, in Pleasant Grove is 1, in Prattville is 1, in Saraland is 1, in Scottsboro is 1, in Selma is 2, in Sheffield is 1, in Sylacauga is 2, in Talladega is 3, in Thomasville is 1, in Tuscaloosa is 13, in Valley is 2, in Vestavia is 3, and in Wetumpka is 4.

Montgomery is the capital city of this southern state, though Birmingham is its largest city. Population in 2005 was 4,557,808. Alabama is the birthplace of historical figures Hank Aaron, Helen Keller, and George Washington Carver. Take an airboat tour on the Mobile river delta, see the Alabama Civil Rights museum in Mantua, or tour the Jazz Hall of Fame in Birmingham. Visit the Shakespeare Festival Theater Complex in Montgomery, or play a round of golf at one of Alabama’s many acclaimed courses. From the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the state’s north to the Gulf coast beaches in the south, Alabama’s scenery includes a varied and diverse landscape.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Alabama has a population of 4,557,808. Of this population, 1,074,627 are under the age of 18 and 600,258 are at or above the age of 65.