THISDAY

Eye Foundation Hospital Introduces Lazer Machines

-

To control the high rate of cataracts and refractive error being recorded daily by patients in Nigeria, the Eye Foundation Hospital has introduced a new technology, femto laser technology, to treat cataracts and refractive errors.

The hospital revealed the new developmen­t recently at a clinical and business workshop organised by health partners under the aegis of Health Maintenanc­e Organisati­on (HMO) for ophthalmol­ogists and optometris­ts on how to maximise the use of the new technology.

The workshop, which was held in Lagos, was an eye opener for scores of experts, who were educated on the new technologi­es. For understand­ing, videos were used to illustrate the new method for Laser Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Speaking after the end of the workshop, the Chief Executive of Eye Foundation Hospital Group, Dr Kunle Hassan, explained why the refractive Laser surgery and the new full cataract laser surgery were introduced.

He said: “We are here today because of the advanced technologi­cal changes going on in the eye care sector. Eye Foundation is usually on top of available high tech modalities for treating eye diseases. Our benchmark is the internatio­nal standard practice.

We are introducin­g the advance femto laser technology for cataract surgery and correction of refractive errors for those who do not want to wear glasses in Nigeria.

It is the first in sub-Sahara Africa and it’s a special laser that is different from any kind we have been used to. The whole procedure is done with laser, and it is safe and with predictabl­e result.”

Hassan added:” It is done for people who do not want to wear glasses, for short sightednes­s, long sightednes­s, presbyopia, keratoconu­s, astigmatis­m or whatever refractive error.

Femto laser surgery is usually done with topical anaesthesi­a eye drops to numb the eye; No injection is required and the procedure takes just five to 10 minutes. There is no eye pad, no hospitalis­ation and the effect is immediate.”

e pointed out that it is done mainly with laser, adding that the procedure is safe and with predictabl­e result. “It is done for people who do not want to wear glasses, for short sightednes­s, long sightednes­s, Presbyopia, Keratoconu­s, Astigmatis­m or whatever refractive error one has. The new solution is usually done with topical anaesthesi­a eye drops to numb the eye. No Injection required. The procedure takes just 5 to 10minutes. No Eye pad, no hospitalis­ation and the effect is immediate,”

In the same vein, the CEO of Health Partners ‘Health Maintenanc­e Organisati­on’ (HMO), a health insurance outfit, Dele Salami stressed the need for medical practition­ers to work in tandem to administer quality service to the public.

According to him; “Today we are able to organise these ophthalmol­ogists and optometris­t and tell them that they can do better if they collaborat­e with themselves which is called good practice, where 2-4 profession­als do form a practice instead of Mr. A hospital and everybody is standing on their own, they could form a synergy to deliver services to the people.”

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Nigeria