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Ophthalmology
OPHTHALMOLOGY PROCEDURES
A clear and perfect vision not only guarantees you a better image but also provides a definite and noticeable improvement in your quality of life, because there’s no longer a need to wear glasses. Imagine, for example, not having to use cumbersome glasses at the pool or the beach, or simply being able to forget their use altogether, and all the comforts this would bring. Turismedic offers you a variety of treatments that correct or heal visual refractive problems, ensuring the use of the latest technology and an experienced and recognized surgical team. You will also be able to have access to other ophthalmologic surgeries such as corneal transplants, which in Colombia is known to have the availability of optimal resources.
Refractive Surgery
 Ocular refractive defects such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism are eliminated or reduced through this procedure. This surgery can also be used for some cases of keratoconus and presbyopia, eliminating the dependence on glasses and contact lenses.
Refractive surgery is a minimally invasive surgical procedure, which requires of approximately 8 minutes per eye, is performed with topical local anesthesia (eye drops), completely ambulatory, and in most cases doesn’t require time off from work. Nonetheless, the patient should always follow the specific post-op recommendations from the ophthalmologist.
There are two important factors when deciding where to have your Refractive Surgery performed: the technology available, not only in terms of which laser is used, but also in the support of the previous diagnosis; and finally, the experience and knowledge of the medical ophthalmologist
Technology
The diagnostic examination is performed with hi-tech equipment, which includes an exam with Wave Front and Tracey (optical eye evaluation), Pentacam (corneal morphological analysis), Paquimetry, Topography and Pupillometry.
This procedure is done with Visx S4 laser equipment with Wave front, plus an Iris Register which allows for personalized treatments that not only correct the basic refractive defect, but also those little irregularities on the cornea that are called optical aberrations, thus achieving a closer result to that which is called perfect vision, or super vision.
Procedure
 In order to guarantee the surgery’s effectiveness, and according to the level of correction and corneal characteristics, two basic kinds of surgical Eximer Laser techniques can be used: Lasik, and Surface Surgery.
Lasik:
It is one of the most widely used surgical methods in the world for correcting refracting defects. It consists of using a microkeratome to raise a portion of the corneal epithelium (between 100 and 160 micrometers of thickness, called Flap), in order to expose the strome of the underlying cornea, and then applying the laser to modify the curvature of the cornea depending on which defect is being corrected. Afterwards, the raised flap is replaced and it reattaches through desiccation. This surgical technique doesn’t require of too much disability time, visual recovery is very fast, and initial post-op discomfort becomes virtually inexistent.
Surface Surgery: It is the technique of choice when, due to certain corneal characteristics or a higher degree of refractive defect, one wants to minimize the probability of reducing the thickness of the cornea. Among this kind of methods are:
Lasek: Contrary to Lasik, with this technique the removal of the epithelium is done with alcohol thus permitting it to be restored depending on the state of it at the end of the ablation. It requires the use of a disposable contact lens at the beginning of the post-op period, and has a disability period of 4 to 5 days.
PRK: The corneal epithelium is also removed with a laser, and it also requires the use of a post-op contact lens with a disability of 4 to 5 days.
Epilasik: The removal of epithelium is performed with a special microkeratome which produces a flap similar to that of LASIK, but much thinner. After doing the laser correction the displaced epithelium is repositioned, and a contact lens is placed. The disability time is of three days.
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Corneal Transplant – Keratoplasty
 The eye works like a photographic camera. It has 2 elements, an optical portion which is in charge of forming an image of the object which is being observed, and a neuronal portion which transforms this image into electrical impulses. The components of the optical portion are the cornea and the crystalline, with the cornea being the more important of the two. Any alteration of the shape or transparency of the cornea leads to an alteration in the eye’s optical properties, and thus an ensuing distortion in the visual image.
If a person has opaqueness of the cornea, light rays are prevented from reaching the retina. In another case, if a person has a deformity of the cornea, these rays are dispersed and a proper image is not produced.
Symptoms vary depending on the affliction and each specific case, but the most common ones are a decrease in visual acuity and blurred vision; in some cases a patient’ vision is out of focus and there is photophobia (an aversion to light).
Causes that can affect the cornea and/or alter its typical transparency can be infections (herpes, bacteria, corneal abscess, and viruses are the most frequent), traumatisms (bruises, wounds, scars, burns, etc.), or dystrophies.
In these cases it is necessary to have a keratoplasty or corneal transplant, which consists of removing the central part of the patient’s cornea, and then replacing it with that of a donor.
The only contraindications for this surgery are corneas that are insufficiently enervated (dry eye). The procedure lasts around one hour, in some cases uses general anesthesia, but in others can be performed with local anesthesia and an ambulatory post-op. This, in addition to having a low probability of rejection, gives these transplants a 90% chance of success.
In Colombia, a corneal transplant has become logistically easier and cheaper, due to legislation that establishes that all persons are donors unless they expressly manifest their wish not to, in writing while living. In this way the number of potential donors is greatly increased. Also, legislation contemplates for free donations, and there are very strict hygienic and physiological requirements before the organ can be stored for a latter transplant. Because of this, here it is not difficult to find a sufficient supply of available corneas in perfect condition for the surgery.
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Other Ophthalmologic Treatments:
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General Ophthalmology |
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Cataract Surgery: Facoemulsification |
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Keratocone Treatment |
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Stromal Rings |
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Pterygium Surgery |
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