UV cross-linking:

A system that interconnects the corneal collagen with CE mark in order to treat corneal disorders such as keratoconus, transparent peripheral thinning and ectasia.

CROSS-LINKING UV-X – IROC

TOMEY Automatic Electronic Microscope for Endothelial 
Cells:

A unit used to measure the diameter, the morphology and the number of endothelial cells in the cornea. It is applied during the preoperative stage of cataract procedures, as well as for monitoring congenital and acquired corneal disorders.

laser ματιων EM 3000 SPECULAR MICROSCOPE - TOMEY

Orbscan Corneal Topography:

Corneal imaging and optical scanning system Orbscan IIz with high definition updated software for optimum imaging of the cornea in refractive surgery and in corneal disorders.

Oculyzer Corneal Topography:

High definition corneal imaging and optical scanning system Oculyzer-Topolyzer. It provides optimum imaging of the cornea in refractive surgery and in corneal disorders, as well as the Wavefront Topoguider system, with the highest possible resolution of 25,000 points and operational connection with the topography and the Excimer Laser.

ALLEGRO-OCULYZER - WAVELIGHT

XP Microkeratome:

pecialized microkeratome which allows for the creation of a Planar Flap during a Lasik procedure in refractive surgery (Planar Lasik) and offers more safety, more reliability, and better results.

A complete system for mapping the Cornea

Based on the placido disc Topolizer Vario this combines corneal topography with corneal mesuring. It uses 22 rings of measurement and modern software techniques for 3D mapping of the cornea with just a few μm error.

WaveLight ALLEGRO Topolyzer Vario

Corneal Topography Oculyzer II:

The most modern system for corneal topography that uses the HR Pentacam technology. Scanning and mapping of very high resolution (50 scans of 25.000 points in real time) is performed for the best represention of the cornea. It is used in the pre-operational testing of corrective surgery.

WaveLight Occulyzer II

Excimer Laser Allegretto:

An advanced and complete Excimer Laser, that incorporates excellent technological features, rapid Laser source, extremely precise tracker, capable of increasing and decreasing the thermal load on the cornea. It is one of the most advanced and safe solutions for the correction of myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia and refractive abnormalities.

ALLEGRETTO -400 WAVE EYE-Q - WAVELIGHT

Chalazion and stye are two very common inflammations of the eyelid glands, for which we visit the ophthalmologist. A timely visit to the specialist and proper treatment will help us avoid pain and possible surgical removal for cosmetic reasons, if they are left untreated for a long time.

What is chalazion?

Chalazion (meibomian gland cyst) is a chronic lipogranulomatous inflammatory damage caused by obstruction of the orifices of the glands and pooling of sebaceous secretions. This gradually creates a cyst usually found in the upper or lower eyelid. Patients with rosacea or seborrhoeic dermatitis face higher risks to present chalazion or even multiple and relapsing chalazia.

What is stye?

Stye can be either internal or external. Internal stye is a small abscess caused by acute staphylococcal infection of the meibomian glands, while external stye is a small acute staphylococcal abscess of an eyelash pocket and of the respective Zeis and Moll glands.

What is the difference between chalazion and stye?

Chalazion is sometimes confused with stye, which also appears as a nubbin on the eyelid. Stye is an acute infection of the eyelash pocket and forms a red, painful nubbin near the edge of the eyelid. Chalazion is usually a reaction to enclosed lipid secretions and is not caused by bacteria, even though its position can be secondarily infected. Chalazia tend to appear away from the edge of the eyelid, contrary to styes that tend to climax towards the inside or nasal part of the eyelid. Sometimes, a chalazion can cause a sudden edema on the entire eyelid.

What are the symptoms from their appearance?

Both appear as inflammatory swellings of the eyelid. The eyelid is edematous, red and in pain, especially under pressure. They can appear on the upper or lower eyelid, in the inside or the outside. If the inflammation is large, then the eyelid tends to close, while the weight of the cyst that has been created in larger chalazia can cause blurry vision due to astigmatism caused by pressure on the cornea. In stye, a white spot may appear, which indicates presence of pus.

How is stye treated?

Internal:

Incision and drainage may be necessary in case there are some remnants after the recession of the acute infection

External:

No treatment is required in the majority of cases, since stye is usually either absorbed automatically or is drained forward near the base of the eyelash.
Warm compressesstrong> may prove useful in severe cases.
The removal of the eyelash connected to the afflicted pocket may accelerate pus drainage.
Systematic antibiotics may be necessary when there is severe eyelid cellulitis.

How is chalazion treated?

When chalazion is small and without symptoms, it can be removed without treatment. If it is large, it may blur vision due to deformation of the shape of the eye. Local ointments and eye drops with antibiotics or mixed use of local cortisone is the main treatment. It is important to start treatment immediately, because if the inflammation becomes chronic, then it can create a full cyst, which cannot be treated with medication, but needs to be surgically removed. So, if chalazion has not passed after 3 or 4 weeks, then surgical removal can be done, mainly for cosmetic reasons.

Therefore, chalazia can be treated with one of the following treatments or with a combination of them:

Antibiotics or combination with steroid local eye drops during the day and ointment at night for a few days.
Warm compresses.
 
Warm compresses can be applied in various ways. The simplest is to hold a clean towel doused in warm water on our closed eyelids for 5-10 minutes, 3-4 times a day. The towel should be doused again to keep warm. Finally, we dry the eyelids using smooth movements and wipe away all signs of pus or other secretions with a clean gauze which changes for every wiping.
Gland massaging smoothly and periodically, in combination with medication and warm compresses.
Surgical removal. When chalazion does not subside with the above treatments, we move on to a surgical procedure which doesn't require staying overnight at the hospital. After using anesthetic eye drops, an anesthetic injection will be done under the skin, next to the cyst, in order for you not to feel any pain. The feeling will be similar to the injection done by a dentist. Subsequently, the surgeon will turn the eyelid and from a small vertical incision he will do on the inside of the eyelid he will remove the contents of the cyst along with part of its walls. Finally, an eye cover that applies pressure is used, which needs to stay on for at leastt six hours. After the removal of the eye cover you can wash your eye with a clean cotton towel or a gauze doused in cool water, which you will have boiled in advance, in order for the eye to be cleaned from any remnants of blood or other secretions. You may notice some bruising on your eye, which, however, will disappear within the next few days. Your doctor will give you antibiotic eye drops or ointment, which you should use at least 4 times a day for at least a week.
Chalazia usually respond well to treatment, even though some people are prone to relapses. In that case, a repeated treatment is required, as well as a thorough examination that will show the causes of the relapses. If a chalazion appears on the same spot, then the doctor will order a biopsy in order to avoid more severe problems.
Finally, frequent relapses can be avoided with the use of corrective glasses for people who have hyperopia or advanced presbyopia and don't wear glasses.

Advice to prevent reappearance of chalazion

Thorough cleaning of the eyelids prevents reappearance of chalazia in people who are prone to them. By cleaning the eyelid area regularly with baby shampoo we decrease the chances of gland obstruction. Furthermore, adopting some dietary habits, without it being panacea, certainly contributes both to prevention of reappearance of chalazia and to general health improvement. So:

Increase consumption of foods rich in vitamin A. These foods include fish, preferably roasted, like salmon and tuna. It is advisable to consume them about 2-3 times a week. Consumption of B-carotene is necessary since it becomes vitamin A in our body.
Include in your diet foods rich in vitamin B6, such as vegetables (peas and beans), tuna, salmon, chicken, and vitamin B3 (sunflower seeds).
Fresh salads are also a very useful food. Consume three bowls a day.
Drink large quantities of water, at least 6 glasses a day.

Remember:Your ophthalmologist is the best source for responsible answers on issues related to your eyes and their health. Under no circumstances is information taken from our website intended to replace him. Seek your doctor for complete information.

What is strabismus?

Strabismus is a very common childhood disorder that affects 4% of the general population and is an eye condition in which the visual axes of the eyes are not aligned. In this case, one eye looks straight while the other diverts towards inside or outside. Based on the direction of the eye, there is esotropia when the eye is turned towards the inside, exotropia when it is turned towards the outside, anotropia, when it looks up etc. Strabismus can appear in the first months of the infant's life, especially esotropia, or after 18-24 months, when the child starts focusing on close objects.

When a child presents strabismus, and this is more easily observed by his mother, then he will need to be examined to diagnose if it is true strabismus or pseudostrabismus, especially in the ages of 3 and 4, when ocular muscles and the child's vision are not yet stabilized. A very common cause of pseudostrabismus is epicanthus (eye fold) and a wide nose. Pseudostrabismus corrects itself and needs no treatment, while real strabismus must be corrected as soon as possible, because apart from a cosmetic problem (parents consider it a major problem), there is also the danger of amblyopia. The eye that squints in a child may gradually become “lazy”, which means that it stops seeing clearly even with the help of glasses. This is practically irreversible after the first decade of a child's life and the “lazy” eye will stay “lazy” for life. Immediate diagnosis and proper treatment help in order to avert such a possibility.

How is strabismus treated?

When a child shows signs of strabismus, he needs to be examined by an ophthalmologist to diagnose the type and cause of strabismus. Vision and refraction should also be checked using dilating drops to see what the precise dilating strength of the glasses is. At the same time, the fundus is checked for possible abnormalities.

There are cases of strabismus corrected only with glasses, which the child must wear constantly and must be checked every 6-12 months. In esotropia, hyperopia is also found, which increases until the age of 6, stabilizes by the age of 8 and gradually decreases by the age of 14. With the gradual decrease in glasses strength, the degree of strabismus is also decreased. Strabismus that cannot be corrected with glasses will need surgery. With surgery we can strengthen or weaken the muscles in order to align the eyes. In case strabismus is high or complex, e.g. horizontal and vertical, a second surgery might be needed.

It is very important to point out the importance of eye exams before the school age, even if parents cannot observe any problems in their child.

What is amblyopia?

Amblyopia, or “lazy” eye, is not only caused by strabismus. Big differences in the refractive ability of the two eyes, e.g. one-sided high congenital myopia (anisometropic amblyopia), conditions that don't allow light to reach the posterior segment of the eye, e.g. ptosis, congenital cataract (amblyopia ex anopsia), high ametropias, usually hyperopia (ametropic amblyopia), from non-corrected astigmatism (meridional amblyopia) and other disorders, e.g. congenital nystagmus, are all possible to cause amblyopia to a child. Diagnosis and etiological treatment is the basis of proper medical care of this not at all rare disorder, since about 7% of people have some degree of amblyopia acquired during their childhood.

How is amblyopia treated?

The first and most serious issue is proper diagnosis and prevention of amblyopia and this can happen only with a full ophthalmological examination. Treating the basic cause, e.g. strabismus, cataract removal, or prescribing the proper glasses is not enough to correct amblyopia. Besides all that, the good eye needs to be covered so the child will need to use the amblyopic eye to see and thus acquire good vision.

The younger the child is when amblyopia is diagnosed, the better his vision will be after treatment. We need to point out how necessary it is to do an eye exam before school age, because if the diagnosis is made at that age, the child can have perfect vision, while if it is diagnosed at the age of 7 or 8, amblyopia will be permanent for the rest of the child's life except for exceptional cases.

A very important role in the success of this technique is the positive opinion of the parents and their insistence on the treatment, because no child wants to have his eye bandaged. It is better to be pressured early by the parents than have a lazy eye for the rest of his life that might be an obstacle in his personal career, for example, he will not be able to acquire a driver's license or be accepted in a military academy.

Covering the eye is needed for a few hours every day and for as long as it is necessary, months or even years, since it depends on the degree of amblyopia and the regular application of the cover. In small children, improvement is rapid, but the child will have to be monitored closely until the age of 8 to avoid any possible relapse.

 Remember: Your ophthalmologist is the best source for responsible answers on issues related to your eyes and their health. Under no circumstances is information taken from our website intended to replace him. Seek your doctor for complete information.