Ophthalmology in Marbella

Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine and surgery that deals with eye health and eyesight issues. Out of all the five senses, vision is often considered to be the most important, hence the need to take proper care of our eyes.

The best way to maintain optimal eye health and eyesight is to:

  • Eat well. Nutrition impacts all of our body parts, and the varied Mediterranean diet is widely regarded as highly beneficial for our general well-being and our eye health in particular. Its high content of Omega 3 and vitamins A and C help to keep our eyes in excellent condition.
  • Rest. Staring at a computer or phone screen for too long can cause eyestrain, blurry vision and dry eyes. It is recommended to look away from electronic screens at least five minutes every hour, and to use artificial tears for hydration.
  • Wear sunglasses. The sun can cause dry eyes and the cornea to swell. In addition, too much UV exposure increases the odds of cataracts and macular degeneration.

ReLEx Smile

Hospital Ochoa is the only medical center in the province of Malaga that provides the revolutionary ReLEx Smile – a minimally invasive technique that corrects nearsightedness (myopia) and astigmatism. In addition, our excellent Ophthalmology Department provides the latest solutions in refractive surgery, including Lasik and Femtolasik techniques.

Eye exams

Generally speaking, annual check-ups are recommended starting at the age of 40. Children’s eyesight should be checked around the age of 4, especially if the medical family history contains cases of eye issues. Nevertheless, even if no problems are detected at 4, it is still advisable to have another check-up at 10 years of age and a third one during adolescence, as a child’s eyesight may change as they grow up.

Eye surgery

Cataracts

A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye that leads to a decrease in vision. The underlying mechanism involves the crystalline lens behind the pupil losing its transparency and reducing transmission of light to the retina.

Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss in people over 40 years of age and the number one reason for blindness worldwide. They are most commonly due to aging, although risk factors include prolonged exposure to sunlight, tobacco and diabetes.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve and gradually cause vision loss. It usually occurs because the intraocular fluid does not drain properly and builds up pressure that damages the nerve. Eye exams, early detection and proper treatment can help preserve vision quality.

Blocked tear ducts

A relatively common health issue, blocked tear ducts prevent tears from draining properly, leaving the eyes watery and irritated. It mainly affects young adults and older women. There are a number of treatments, such as medication or massaging, but when these don’t produce the desired results ophthalmologists may recommend surgery.

Eyelid surgery

Eyelid surgery covers various interventions, such as the removal of tumors or repairing droopy eyelids. Blepharoplasty, more commonly known as eyelift, is the most requested procedure for plastic surgery patients over the age of 55, and it removes excess skin or fat from both the upper and lower eyelids.

Strabismus

Strabismus is a lack of eye parallelism, that is, the two eyes are not aligned with each other. Sometimes the deviation is negligible, but in the most severe cases it may cause double vision or a lack of depth perception. Strabismus is caused by a malfunction of the eye muscles and treatment may require surgery.

Refractive surgery

Hospital Ochoa provides free eye evaluations for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Book a free appointment and find out if refractive eye surgery is right for you.

Refractive eye surgery improves the refractive state of the eye and thereby decreases or eliminates the need for glasses or contact lenses. As techniques have evolved, the use of this surgery has become more common and widespread. Our team of ophthalmologists evaluate each patient on a case by case basis in order to determine which type of refractive eye surgery is most appropriate.

Hospital Ochoa uses the latest laser eye technology:

  • Carl Zeiss Mel 80 Excimer Laser, which is used for:
  • Lasik
  • Femtolasik
  • Carl Zeiss VisuMax Laser, which is used for:
  • Relex Smile.

Nearsightedness (myopia)

Nearsightedness produces blurred vision of distant objects and is due to an excessive curvature of the eye’s crystalline lens. It is the most common refractive error of the eye, and long hours in front of electronic screens is causing this problem to affect more people with each passing generation. It is estimated that in 20 years’ time, 50% of the Spanish population may be nearsighted.

Farsightedness (hyperopia)

Hyperopia produces distant objects clearly while those nearby are blurry. It is a visual focusing error that can sometimes be confused with other eye health issues such as presbyopia or eyestrain. Early detection is important, especially in children, because it can lead to other disorders such as lazy eye or strabismus.

Astigmatism

This refractive error produces blurry vision at any distance and is caused by an irregular curvature of the cornea. Causes of astigmatism are unclear, but it seems that it is largely hereditary.

Nd:YAG laser technology

Nd:YAG laser has many uses, and in ophthalmology is used for treating glaucoma and secondary cataract from intraocular lens surgery. It is very important for surgical perforation of the iris and for eliminating disorders that prevent the passage of liquids from the eye’s posterior chamber to the anterior chamber due to pupillary blockages.

Diagnostic tests

IOLMaster

This instrument uses a harmless laser to measure the eye structures. The measurement makes it possible to calculate intraocular lenses (IOL) accurately.

Campimeter

This is a non-invasive test that explores the sensitivity of the visual field by evaluating retinal sensitivity to light stimuli and the evolution of the peripheral visual field. It is used for patients with glaucoma and other neuro-ophthalmological disorders.

Corneal pachymetry

This painless test measures the thickness of the eye’s cornea in order to determine the suitability of refractive surgery.

Corneal topography

The non-invasive ORBSCAN imaging technology allows for the complete mapping of the cornea’s surface. The test is critically important for determining the quality of a patient’s vision and corneal health.

Surgeries

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