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. Iowa has 225 practicing ophthalmologists. Broken out by city, ophthalmology doctor density in Ames is 9, in Anamosa is 2, in Ankeny is 2, in Atlantic is 2, in Audubon is 1, in Bettendorf is 11, in Boone is 1, in Carroll is 4, in Cedar Falls is 8, in Cedar Rapids is 21, in Chariton is 1, in Clarinda is 3, in Clinton is 6, in Corning is 1, in Corydon is 1, in Council Bluffs is 10, in Davenport is 13, in Denison is 2, in Des Moines is 17, in Dubuque is 12, in Dyersville is 1, in Elkader is 1, in Emmetsburg is 2, in Estherville is 1, in Fairfield is 5, in Fort Dodge is 7, in Fort Madison is 2, in Glenwood is 1, in Guthrie Center is 1, in Guttenberg is 2, in Harlan is 1, in Ida Grove is 1, in Iowa City is 76, in Iowa Falls is 1, in Jefferson is 1, in Keokuk is 3, in Manchester is 3, in Maquoketa is 2, in Marion is 1, in Marshalltown is 14, in Mason City is 9, in Missouri Valley is 3, in Mount Pleasant is 1, in Muscatine is 5, in Newton is 1, in Oelwein is 1, in Onawa is 1, in Ottumwa is 4, in Oxford is 1, in Perry is 1, in Quarry is 3, in Rock Valley is 1, in Sheldon is 3, in Shenandoah is 2, in Sioux City is 9, in Spencer is 2, in Storm Lake is 2, in Waterloo is 9, in Waukon is 1, in Waverly is 3, in West Burlington is 2, in West Des Moines is 26, in West Union is 1, and in Windsor Heights is 1.

Iowa’s capital is Des Moines, home to Drake University. Iowa achieved Statehood 1846, and the state’s population is now 2,996,334. The Mississippi river borders the state on the east, and a majority of the state’s economic output is agricultural. Many cultural and entertainment opportunities exist for visitors to the “quad cities” of Davenport and Bettendorf, IA, and Rock Island and Moline, IL. Numerous museums, arts, music and sports events are available in Iowa, including the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, the Amana Colonies, and the Buffalo Bill Cody Homestead. Famous people born in Iowa: Buffalo Bill, entertainers Johnny Carson and John Wayne, and former president Herbert Hoover.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Iowa has a population of 2,966,334. Of this population, 656,031 are under the age of 18 and 434,196 are at or above the age of 65.