Final answer:
An optometrist or an ophthalmologist specializes in eye and vision care, including correcting common vision problems like myopia with concave lenses and hyperopia with convex lenses; they can also treat astigmatism.
Step-by-step explanation:
A health care professional who specializes in eye and vision care is called an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. These professionals are key to maintaining good eye health by providing comprehensive eye exams, prescribing vision correction aids like glasses or contact lenses, and detecting eye diseases early. Understanding the importance of vision and common problems like myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness) highlights the role of these eye specialists. Myopia is corrected with concave lenses, while hyperopia is corrected with convex lenses. Advanced treatments, such as LASIK surgery, offer permanent solutions to reshape the cornea and correct these common vision impairments. Moreover, another visual defect, astigmatism, can be treated with specialized lenses with a cylindrical correction to counteract irregularities in the eye's focus.