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 277 practicing ophthalmologists. Broken out by city, ophthalmology doctor density in Alabaster is 6, in Albertville is 2, in Alexander City is 2, in Andalusia is 12, in Anniston is 6, in Ashland is 2, in Athens is 2, in Atmore is 5, in Auburn is 4, in Bay Minette is 1, in Bessemer is 2, in Birmingham is 109, in Boaz is 1, in Brewton is 1, in Butler is 1, in Clanton is 1, in Cullman is 5, in Daphne is 7, in Decatur is 3, in Dothan is 23, in Enterprise is 6, in Fairfield is 1, in Fairhope is 8, in Fayette is 1, in Florence is 14, in Foley is 5, in Gadsden is 20, in Gulf Shores is 1, in Guntersville is 2, in Haleyville is 1, in Hoover is 1, in Huntsville is 27, in Jackson is 1, in Jasper is 2, in Marion is 2, in Mobile is 38, in Monroeville is 1, in Montgomery is 22, in Muscle Shoals is 2, in Oneonta is 2, in Opelika is 6, in Pelham is 1, in Pell City is 2, in Pleasant Grove is 1, in Prattville is 1, in Saraland is 1, in Scottsboro is 2, in Selma is 3, in Sheffield is 2, in Springville is 1, in Sylacauga is 2, in Talladega is 3, in Thomasville is 1, in Tuscaloosa is 13, in Tuskegee is 1, in Valley is 2, in Vestavia is 3, and in Wetumpka is 6.

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.