Ophthalmology

What Is Ophthalmology?

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine studying the visual system. Ophthalmology is concerned with revealing the causes and risk factors of eye diseases and, most importantly, their diagnosis and treatment.

The main function of the eye is detection, transmission, and transformation of light into a specific image. The eyes help us receive the larger part of all information, so it is important to maintain eye health for as long as possible. In fact, almost every person develops eye diseases during their lifetime, but how soon it happens depends on many factors. Even healthy people having no aggravating factors or a positive family history experience eyesight deterioration as they get older, which is normal.

The Most Common Diseases

Many eye diseases develop without causing any symptoms and being noticed by the patient. The clinical presentation often becomes evident only at an extensive stage, when the visual system already features significant abnormal changes. In this case, non-surgical therapy is unlikely to help, and the treatment cost and duration will be more impressive. Therefore, you should not neglect the annual preventive examination by an ophthalmologist: this will help you not to miss the disease onset.

The most common diseases are refractive errors: myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The ophthalmologist also deals with other diseases such as:

  1. Dry eye syndrome. A condition is common in elderly people or those who spend a lot of time at the computer and with the smartphone. People wearing contact lenses for appearance or vision correction always suffer from dry eye. The syndrome is caused by lacrimal gland dysfunction: the glands produce fewer tears than is necessary for lubricating the eyeballs. Temporary symptoms of dry eye may appear after laser correction surgery. Dry eyes, burning, and discomfort can be caused by blepharitis and several other conditions. In these cases, dry eye syndrome will be one of their symptoms.
  2. This is a rather dangerous condition since it is considered one of the main causes of vision loss. Glaucoma is closely associated with ocular hypertension and predominantly develops in people aged 45 and older. Hypertension gradually destroys the retina, resulting in irreversible blindness. Examinations by an ophthalmologist including compulsory measurement of intraocular pressure (tonometry) help diagnose glaucoma early and start treatment on time.
  3. It is characterized by the clouding of the crystalline lens, which naturally should be transparent. The risk of cataracts increases with age. If a patient does not pay due attention to their health and ignores the symptoms of cataracts, they may lose their vision forever. The only effective treatment for cataracts is surgery: the opaque lens is replaced with an intraocular lens.
  4. Macular dystrophy is an age-related disease involving retinal degeneration. The death of retinal neural cells disrupts its information exchange with the brain. Various disorders appear so it becomes difficult for the patient to lead their normal life: to read books, watch news programs, recognize the people around them, etc. Macular dystrophy forces people to leave their jobs because they are no longer able to perform their work. It is not yet possible to restore the vision lost because of macular dystrophy, but early diagnosis of the disease enables starting therapy to prevent further cell destruction.
  5. Diabetic retinopathy is a disease that diabetes cases are diagnosed with: this problem is considered one of its severe complications. Chronic hyperglycemia causes the destruction of retinal blood vessels. Managing blood sugar and having regular consultations with an ophthalmologist help maintain vision and delay vascular damage. Laser therapy can slow down the disease progression.

Eye Diseases Treatment Methods

Surgery

Surgical techniques in ophthalmology are extremely advanced and are often considered the only effective way to solve the problem. The operation makes it possible to restore lost vision or slow down the abnormal changes.

Due to the booming growth of microsurgery, eye operations have become much more efficient and safer. They are also less traumatizing, which reduces the risk of postoperative complications.

Foreign specialists of the world’s best clinics use microsurgical instruments, laser technologies, and ultrasound equipment in a single combination. More and more operations exclude opening the eyeball whenever possible. For reconstructive surgery, doctors in clinics in Israel, Germany, and other developed countries use the latest-generation biocompatible materials that meet all quality and safety standards.

Along with the equipment and advanced technologies, the skill of the surgeon plays an important role in treatment success. Foreign specialists never stop learning: they attend seminars and workshops, where they perfect their skills. The teamwork of doctors and nursing staff makes all stages of treatment and rehabilitation easy and comfortable for the patient.

Non-Surgical Treatment

Non-surgical treatments are also quite popular in ophthalmology. Medications are mostly topical: doctors prescribe eye drops, ointments, and sometimes injections. Systemic medications are also used, but less often.

Non-surgical treatment is often prescribed to outpatients: a patient visits the doctor, receives prescriptions, and has the treatment at home. In this case, the patient is able to do all procedures on their own and does not need the help of medical personnel. But when a person needs surgery or continuous medical supervision, hospitalization will be recommended to them.

In large healthcare centers, physiotherapy is widely used to treat eye diseases. The techniques include reflex therapy, intense pulsed light therapy, electrophoresis, etc. As a rule, physiotherapy consists of several multidirectional procedures prescribed as a certain combination.

Ophthalmologists often seek advice from doctors of other specialties and engage them in the treatment process. Diabetes often causes damage to the eyes, so an endocrinologist often takes part in the treatment; sometimes consultation with an allergist and immunologist or a cardiologist is necessary.

Patients with myopia, astigmatism, or hyperopia choose glasses as an optimal and simple method of vision correction. When diagnosing, the doctor accurately assesses the level of visual impairment and helps choose the right eyeglass lenses. If a person does not want to wear glasses or contact lenses, laser correction or other surgeries may be offered to them depending on their age, concomitant diseases, and many other factors.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation helps consolidate the treatment results. This stage is especially important for postoperative recovery. The doctor in charge of the case makes an individual rehabilitation program in cooperation with rehabilitation physicians, kinesiotherapists, physiotherapists, and other specialists. Such a program will provide everything the body needs during this difficult period and enable the patient to come back to normal as soon as possible.

Hospitals — 11

Ophthalmology — лечение в Hadassah hospital

Jerusalem, Israel

Average speed of response

Average level of demand

  • 1913 – foundation year
  • 1 189 beds
  • 850 specialists

Hadassah is a medical center considered one of the largest in Israel, where patients worldwide undergo examination, treatment, and recovery. The hospital is located in Jerusalem, there are two locations: Mount Scopus and Hadassah Ein Karem.

Treatment price

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Cost of an estimate

Free of charge

Ophthalmology — лечение в Rambam Medical Center

Haifa, Israel

Average speed of response

Average level of demand

  • 1 000 beds
  • 6 labs,
  • 36 inpatient departments
  • 45 outpatient departments

One of Israel’s leading public hospitals, Rambam, is located in the city of Haifa and has everything necessary to provide first-class medical service to patients worldwide. Here they carry out diagnostics, therapy, and rehabilitation of children and adults with various ailments, ranging from hearing and vision problems to malignant tumors of internal organs.

Treatment price

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Free of charge

Ophthalmology — лечение в Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh)

Tel Aviv, Israel

Average speed of response

Average level of demand

  • 1948 – foundation year
  • 1000 beds
  • 3 400 medical personnel
  • 460 specialists

The Yitzhak Shamir Hospital is a modern center for treatment and diagnostics, which, in terms of the number of patients and staff, as well as the range of services provided, ranks 3rd among the state medical institutions. It occupies an area of about 0.3 hectares and is located in Beer Yaakov. Until 2017, the clinic was called Asaf HaRofe and was renamed in honor of the Israeli Prime Minister in the early 90s of the twentieth century.

Treatment price

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Free of charge

Ophthalmology — лечение в Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)

Tel Aviv, Israel

Quick response time

High demand among patients

  • 150 departments
  • 500 specialists
  • 25 000 surgeries per annum
  • 94 000 patients per annum

The Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) is one of the three largest Israeli hospitals, and even after being renamed in 1973, it is known among patients as the Ichilov clinic. People come here for primary examinations and verification of diagnoses, emergency care, and a wide range of surgical interventions, as well as for recovery and preventive tests. The hospital has gained popularity not only among residents but also among foreign tourists who are interested in receiving first-class medical services at reasonable prices.

Treatment price

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Cost of an estimate

Free of charge

Ophthalmology — лечение в Assuta Hospital

Tel Aviv, Israel

Quick response time

High demand among patients

  • 1934 – foundation year
  • 400 beds
  • 765 specialists
  • 90 000 surgeries annually

The Assuta clinic chain ranks 7th in terms of profitability among Israeli medical institutions and attracts thousands of medical tourists from different parts of the world. The hospital’s history began in 1934, and the founder is Dr. Ben-Zion Harel, who arrived from Germany before the founding of Israel and opened a small center in Tel Aviv. Now, in addition to the main building, which occupies eight hectares, the network includes ten more clinics and dozens of clinical and inpatient departments throughout Israel.

Treatment price

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Cost of an estimate

Free of charge

Ophthalmology — лечение в Herzliya medical center

Herzliya, Israel

Average speed of response

Average level of demand

  • 550 specialists
  • 120 departments
  • 8 000 patients annually
  • 20 000 surgeries annually

Topping many popularity ratings among Israeli and foreign patients, Herzliya Medical Center is a new-generation medical facility where patients can expect prompt and qualified care at fair prices.

Treatment price

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Cost of an estimate

Free of charge

Ophthalmology — лечение в Sheba Medical Center

Ramat-Gan, Israel

Average response speed

Average level of demand

  • 150 departments
  • 1990 beds
  • 1000+ medical specialists
  • 1M+ patients yearly

Having gone from an ordinary military hospital to an internationally recognized medical center, the Sheba Clinic has a huge clinical, rehabilitation, and research base, annually occupying the highest high positions in the ratings of Israeli hospitals. It has the status of a university center and about 150 departments. Sheba actively cooperates with other medical institutions in Israel, the USA, Germany, Japan, and other countries.

Treatment price

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Cost of an estimate

Free of charge

Ophthalmology — лечение в Rudolfinerhaus Private Hospital (Rudolfinerhaus Privatklinik)

Vienna, Austria

Average speed of response

Average level of demand

  • Founded in 1882
  • 156 beds
  • over 500 specialists

The Rudolfinerhaus Clinic, which began its activity thanks to Dr. Theodor Billroth in the second half of the nineteenth century, is now one of the leading private diagnostic and treatment centers not only in Vienna and Austria but throughout Europe. Adhering to the principle of providing high-quality service to each patient, the hospital is constantly introducing the latest technologies and improving the conditions for patients’ stay, as well as creating opportunities for comfortable treatment of foreign patients. The clinic is multidisciplinary – they treat here with various pathologies of the heart, nervous and urinary systems, blood vessels, oncology, and many other health problems.

Treatment price

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Cost of an estimate

Free of charge

Ophthalmology — лечение в Confraternität Private Hospital (Privatklinik Confraternität)

Vienna, Austria

Quick response time

High demand among patients

  • 3 operating theaters
  • 2 procedure rooms
  • 96 beds
  • 2 beds in the interdisciplinary sleep laboratory

The Confraternität Privatklinik was founded in 1729 and is located in the very center of Vienna, 25 km from the airport and 3.5 km from the railway station. The clinic is a multidisciplinary private medical institution providing patients with high-quality diagnostic and therapeutic services.

Treatment price

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Cost of an estimate

Free of charge

Ophthalmology — лечение в Privatklinik LEECH

Graz, Austria

Quick response time

High demand among patients

  • 44 beds
  • 20 high-level specialists

The Austrian medical institution “Privatklinik LEECH” is a part of the Sunlass Holding, which consists of 10 clinics. This is a private hospital, opened in 2005, located in the city of Graz. Nearby are shopping centers and a botanical garden.

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Free of charge

Ophthalmology — лечение в Vienna General Hospital—Allgemeines Krankenhaus der Stadt Wien

Vienna, Austria

Average speed of response

Average level of demand

  • Founded in 1693
  • 2,137 beds
  • 1,464 specialists
  • 26 multidisciplinary clinics
  • 42 clinical institutes

A modern advanced university hospital with over three hundred years of history and thousands of employees. AKH is the oldest university hospital in Europe. With the capacity of 30 clinics and partner institutions, the Central Clinical Hospital of Vienna is rightfully considered one of the largest and most popular medical institutions among patients (including foreigners) in the country. AKH is called “a city within a city” because its vast territory has everything necessary for living, diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating patients, as well as accommodating their accompanying persons.

Treatment price

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Free of charge

Treatment inquiry

To patients