Ophthalmology Clinic A

The 1st Ophthalmology Clinic is staffed by the following ophthalmologists:

• Pantelis A. Papadopoulos, MD, PhD, FEBO, FEBOS-CR, Coordinating Director, Ophthalmic Surgeon, specialized in cataract, glaucoma, and corneal microsurgery; refractive surgery with or without laser; artificial iris implantation; and reconstruction of complex anterior segment conditions.
• Fotini Drevenitsou, MD, Deputy Director, Anterior Segment Ophthalmic Surgeon, Head of Ophthalmology Check-up
• Kalliopi Triantafyllou, MD, Deputy Director, Anterior Segment Ophthalmic Surgeon
• Theodoros Sbonias, MD, Anterior Segment Ophthalmic Surgeon
• Athanasios Roumeliotis, MD, Oculoplastic Surgeon, specialized in eyelid plastic surgery, orbital and lacrimal system surgery, and ocular oncology of the periocular region in the USA
• Konstantina Athanasiou, MD, Anterior Segment Ophthalmic Surgeon
• Efstathia Asimakopoulou, MD, FEBO, Consultant, Anterior Segment Ophthalmic Surgeon, Head of Ophthalmology Check-up
• Efstathios Liazos, MD, Posterior Segment Ophthalmic Surgeon, specialized in Vitreoretinal diseases in the United Kingdom
• Maria Fotopoulou-Chamodraka, MD, Pediatric Ophthalmologist – Strabismologist
• Alexandros Papadopoulos, MD, MSc, FEBO, Anterior Segment Ophthalmic Surgeon

The Ophthalmology Clinic branches out into individual dedicated ophthalmology departments, which constantly communicate and collaborate for the best management of each case. Among the new advanced technologies of the Metropolitan Hospital Ophthalmology Clinic, the Advanced Ophthalmic Microsurgery Unit stands out for cataract and refractive surgeries.

This model Unit is equipped with: the new Femtolaser LenSx, which is used in procedures with unprecedented accuracy; the best lens fragmentation devices worldwide, Alcon Centurion and Bausch & Lomb Stellaris PC; the Verion Image Guided System for more precise planning of the procedure; and the Haag Streit Lenstar 900 for complete biometrical assessment of the intraocular lens that will replace the cataract lens. Our Hospital uses the best intraocular lenses worldwide, usually manufactured in the US or Germany, for the correction of all refractory problems while removing cataracts.

Nowadays, sophisticated technology is an integral part of contemporary medicine, especially when it comes to eye surgery. In recent years, cataract surgery, the most common eye surgery performed, has evolved into refractive surgery, which means that the eye surgeon can correct any refractory eye problems, such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia, at the same time as removing the cataract. The correction of these problems in people who do not have cataract, but wish to stop wearing glasses or contact lenses, falls under the field of Refractive Surgery with or without laser. These two significant ophthalmic microsurgery subspecialties have improved the eyesight and the quality of life of millions of people throughout the world.

The Advanced Ophthalmic Microsurgery Unit at Metropolitan Hospital was established to meet the needs of people with refractory problems, including those with cataract, as well as all the other surgery subspecialties in the field of Ophthalmology. The sophisticated Unit equipment includes the Alcon LenSx femtosecond laser for cataract surgery and refractive surgery, the first in Greece and one of the first in Europe to be used for these two procedures; the Wavelight EX500 Excimer laser for refractive surgeries; the Alcon Centurion and Bausch & Lomb Stellaris PC phacoemulsification devices; the Leica and Molleer-Wedel surgical microscopes; the Verion Image Guided System diagnostic device and many more diagnostic and therapeutic devices.

FLACS (Femto Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery), the latest in cataract surgery, is performed with the use of an ultramodern femtosecond laser and ultrasounds through a tiny two-millimeter incision. This tiny incision provides great safety during the procedure. Moreover, given the size of the incision, healing and postoperative vision restoration is faster and postoperative surgically-induced astigmatism is also significantly lower.

Femto laser adds precision and safety to the early stages of the procedure as it creates precise one millimeter sections in the eye. Once the cataract lens has been fragmented by the femto laser with the special phacoemulsification ultrasound device, the contents are removed by aspiration. The intraocular lens is usually positioned in the place of the cataract lens, after being folded with a special instrument so that it is able to fit through the tiny incision. By using the appropriate intraocular lens, it is possible to correct existing refractory problems of the eye, with the ultimate goal of decreasing or eliminating the patient’s dependency on glasses or contact lenses.

Monofocal intraocular lenses focus on one of three distances (long, middle or near). In other words, they offer vision without glasses either for long distance (driving, watching TV), for middle distance (PC, manual work) or near distance (reading). The individual will need to wear glasses for the other two distances, unless an intraocular lens for a different distance is placed in each eye (Monovision method). If multifocal lenses are used, then glasses are not required in most cases.

The surgical procedure is performed under local anesthesia in the form of eye drops, without injections into the eye, and the patient can return home immediately after. The entire procedure is painless and noninvasive. Sutures are not required most of the time. An anesthesiologist is present during the surgical procedure to administer a relaxant to the patient, so they do not feel the stress of the procedure. The ultramodern operating rooms at Metropolitan Hospital can accommodate any anesthesiology need that may arise during the procedure, thus providing great safety in terms of the patient’s overall health. Routine cataract surgery lasts about 8-12 minutes.

The Advanced Ophthalmic Microsurgery Unit at Metropolitan Hospital boasts the latest generation excimer laser for the treatment of refractory problems. In case of Refractive Surgery, the eye surgeon implements a customized approach for each case. The excimer laser is able to correct up to 12 diopters of myopia, and up to 6 diopters of astigmatism and hyperopia. If an individual has a higher level of correction and a thin cornea, all the diopters can be corrected with the use of special intraocular lenses (anterior and posterior chambers) and corneal inlays.

Nowadays, presbyopia is the major problem of the middle aged. Presbyopia is an eye condition that affects your ability to focus on close-up objects and is due to hardening of the lens of the eye. It starts around the age of 45 and gradually deteriorates over the years. To correct presbyopia, the Advanced Ophthalmic Microsurgery Unit eye surgeons at Metropolitan Hospital can intervene by sculpting a multifocal corneal profile on the corneal surface using the excimer or the femto laser, creating myopia in one eye (Monovision method), or by adding a small corneal inlay and intervening in the lens of the eye with multifocal or monofocal intraocular lenses using the Monovision method. The surgical procedure on the lens of the eye is performed by using the femtosecond laser and ultrasound through a tiny 2 millimeter incision.

The Glaucoma Department performs tests that include automated perimetry (visual fields) for the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and OCT of the optic nerve, as well as anti-glaucoma procedures, including MIGS (Minimal Invasive Glaucoma Surgery), valve implants and trabeculectomy.

• Automated perimetry tests for the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma
• OCT of the optic nerve
• Anti-glaucoma procedures

Tests performed:

• Digital fluroangiography
• Angiography with indocyanine
• OCT of the retina
• Α-Β-scan ultrasonography
• Argon laser photocoagulation
• Intrabulbar injections of anti-angiogenic factors
• Vitreoretinal surgery

The Fundus Department is equipped with a digital fundus camera and laser. Department also performs all surgical procedures associated with the posterior segment of the eye, such as retinectomies due to a variety of disorders.

An Eye Check-Up Department operates within the Clinic that examines a large number of scheduled patients daily. The Center is on call 24/7 for emergencies.

The Department performs:

• Corneal pachymetry
• Corneal topography
• Total and partial corneal transplants
• Corneal collagen cross-linking in keratoconus

Metropolitan Hospital has been licensed by the Ministry of Health and the Hellenic Transplant Organization, to operate a Cornea Transplant Unit. This Unit, which is one of the first of its kind in Greece, performs corneal, scleral and amniotic membrane transplantations. Corneal collagen cross-linking procedures are performed with riboflavin for keratoconus and keratectasia.

The Ophthalmic Plastic, Reconstructive and Orbital Surgery Department performs surgical procedures on the eyelids, lacrimal apparatus and orbit. Given that our Department has treated a number of cases from foreign conflict regions, our surgeons have extensive experience in prosthesis and cosmetic reconstruction in severe ophthalmologic traumas.

The Stabismus and Pediatric Ophthalmology Department treats cases of strabismus or other pediatric ophthalmology conditions.

Complex and complicated surgical procedures that are associated with serious vision restoration problems due to disorders or injuries are performed at Metropolitan Hospital. The first quadruple anterior segment restoration procedure was successfully performed at our Hospital.