CyprusLiving

Posted on behalf of the Author-Clive Turner.

SEE FOR YOURSELF - A SITE FOR SORE EYES


Fading eyesight? A glasses wearer? Contact lenses a daily chore? Blurred vision? A problem reading fine print? Any of these conditions familiar? For me all these had become an irritating reality. But then I'm old now and people said, "What do you expect at your age?" As a former R.N. Fleet Air Arm flyer my eyesight had been perfect. It was a non- negotiable requirement but then, depressingly, the deterioration came slowly but inexorably - and frankly I resented the gradual but all too obvious onset of a loss of a faculty which seemed to be irreversible. Yes, I used glasses, wore contact lenses for years, played tennis, drove my car safely, read, and watched television, enjoyed travel, sunsets, and life in general, but simply became used to a lower level of vision as the years passed.

One day I finally realised that both eyes were offering me the classic blurring which comes with cataracts. My local optician sold me stronger glasses; I bought more suitable contact lenses, and the optician told me he would advise when the cataracts had "ripened enough" for their removal to be recommended - by him.

Friends told me this could be poor advice and listening around I discovered they were right. People with just my set of problems had found a surgeon here in Cyprus who could transform my standard of vision and if you consider you can relate to some or all of the first seventeen words of this article, then read on.

Eyes are precious. Most of us wouldn't welcome the prospect of surgery on them. Isn't there a risk of losing your sight altogether? Can what people tell you really be believed? Do the operations you hear about hurt? Is the recovery time bearable? Is the cost of it all manageable? The answers to all but the last of these questions is reassuring, with the cost being a matter for personal assessment.

My friends who had taken the trip to Nicosia or Paphos (Blue Cross Clinic) where ophthalmic consultant Mr. Tassos Georgiou operates were all 100% delighted with their decision to let him sort their problems and after joining their number I can report astounding results following a few minutes with this highly qualified and thoroughly experienced surgeon. And I do mean a few minutes. It takes around seven minutes an eye to clear cataracts, and to implant the latest American crystal lens, but then the equipment he uses requires an investment of a million euros, and in the theatre will be five people in attendance. Trained in Leeds in the UK and qualifying in 1998 Mr. Georgiou has presented many papers, lectured abroad extensively, and this July was granted a coveted Centre of Excellence Award by Bausch and Lomb, the specialist ophthalmic company recognised worldwide as being the leader in its sphere. Young, personable, with a no nonsense approach, Tassos Georgiou and his team handle up to 20 operations a week, and this article will be the first of its kind about his skill since all his work comes from personal recommendation.

He soon made clear that the comment about "ripening" was at least a decade way out of date, and he also explained that although increasing age was the dominant factor, he had operated on children and that techniques were now available to deal with many eye defects which not so long ago were beyond help. True, macular degeneration remains incurable at present, but laser and other tools can give back such better sight than used to be possible - and he confidently claims that in five years time, restoration of sight will equate with a 20 year old's standard. Asked what percentage of improvement he can promise, he said that would always have to depend on the starting point, but in my case, where there had been some astigmatism in one eye and cataracts on both, the improvement in the first week was for me nothing less than astonishing. And in six weeks the improvement had to be even better - and permanent.

The actual experience in theatre is not too bad. They give the eyes an anaesthetic and you feel nothing. The bright light focused on the eye is indeed as bright as anything you will have ever sensed. The oxygen mask is there if you feel a moment of panic or shortage of breath (few need this), and the light when you hit the street is incredible, but this soon abates and they give you very dark all enveloping glasses (quite stylish actually) to take away, which you need to wear for a few days. You also need to put drops in your eye(s) for a few weeks to reduce the risk of infection and to reduce the inflammatory effect of the work on the eye(s). The operation involves making a 1.8 millimetre slit in the eye and then the insert of the American manufactured crystal lens follows. You are asked to return for three checks. One the next day after the operation; one a week later, and then one six weeks later. If there are complications, which are rare, the check ups may be more in number. Comfortingly, the success rate is over 99%.

Cost? For each eye it's €2,400, although a similar operation in the UK will set you back three thousand pounds. If you have medical insurance this should cover your costs, less any excess. If you have no insurance, then you have to think about whether an increased quality of life is worth that expenditure.

In summary, I have no connection with Tassos Georgiou, but if you have sight problems this is the guy to look up. See his website: www.ophthalmiccentre.com

Clive Turner.

My son had really really bad eyesight and had this procedure done at Bupa after the surgeon told him he couldnt have laser treatment. He had one eye done one day and one a week later. The cost was £2000 each eye so not so different to your cost. He has really good vision in his right eye but not quite so good in the left. But he doesnt have to wear glasses or contact lenses any more. His eyes were sore for a day and 3 months later he went and had the stitches out. You couldnt see the stitches and he remarkably couldnt feel them. His lenses were made in Amsterdam. He goes back to see the surgeon, Mr Chaudrai once a year for a check up. So all in all he considers it to be money well spent.
Regards
Gill Henson