EYE SURGERY
Kristof Vandekerckhove, MD, performs over 5,000 surgical procedures a year
Cataract
During cataract surgery, the natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens (intraocular lens). With suitable glasses, most patients can read and see again without any problems following surgery.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is incurable - however, the progression of the disease can at least be stopped and delayed. Generally, special eye drops are initially used to counteract progression of the disease. However, if the intraocular pressure is too high or the eye drops do not agree with the patient, surgery becomes necessary.
Laser treatments
Lasers at the Vista Alpina Eye Clinic are used for different purposes: there is equipment for applying laser spots to the retina, e.g. in the case of retinal diseases due to diabetes or retinal holes. Other laser equipment is used to treat after cataract (i.e. for fibrosis behind the intraocular lens placed during cataract surgery), or to prevent specific types of glaucoma.
Retina surgery
In the event of retinal detachment, the retina can at least be successfully reattached.
Furthermore, retina surgery includes the surgical removal of severe clouding of the vitreous body (e.g. haemorrhaging in diabetes patients).
A third important field of retina surgery at the Vista Alpina Eye Clinic is removing fine adhesions and membranes from the retina (epiretinal gliosis).
