Department of Adult and Pediatric Ophthalmology - Hospital Oberberg Gummersbach

About the Department of Adult and Pediatric Ophthalmology at Hospital Oberberg Gummersbach

The Department of Adult and Pediatric Ophthalmology at the Hospital Oberberg Gummersbach provides the full range of diagnostic services and conservative and surgical treatment of diseases of the eye and its appendages. The department has been operating successfully since 1994 and is constantly expanding its medical and technical base as well as treatment options. Of particular interest to the department's team of ophthalmologists is the treatment of cataracts and glaucoma using microsurgical techniques, surgical procedures for age-related macular degeneration, correction of strabismus in children and adults, retinal surgery, corneal transplantation, refractive surgery, and aesthetic eyelid surgery. The specialists also successfully perform laser vision correction using the LASIK technique. They have extensive experience performing phacoemulsification for cataracts using the small incision technique. Surgical interventions on the eye apparatus are performed both on an inpatient and outpatient basis. More than 3,500 surgical procedures of varying complexity are performed here every year. The department's highly professional team of ophthalmologists always works in accordance with current clinical protocols and takes into account the individual needs and wishes of each patient. The department is headed by Dr. med. Ludger Henke.

The department treats patients with cataracts on an almost daily basis. This ophthalmic pathology causes partial or total opacification of the crystalline lens, resulting in impaired vision. Without treatment, cataract patients are at risk of total blindness. The risk of developing this eye disease increases significantly between the ages of 45 and 50. Doctors treat the early stages of cataracts using drug therapy with eye drops. This allows for slowing down the pathological process for some time, but not stopping it completely. Therefore, patients with cataracts will have to undergo surgery in any case. The team of the department's ophthalmologists offers phacoemulsification, which is the most advanced surgical method for this disease. The essence of the operation is to remove the patient's own clouded lens and replace it with an intraocular lens. A surgical procedure is performed through a single microscopic incision, which contributes to the patient's rapid recovery in the postoperative period. The surgical intervention is performed using a special ultrasound system under local eye drop anesthesia. Most patients undergo surgery on an outpatient basis and can leave the clinic as early as three hours after the operation. If inpatient treatment is required, the hospital stay is usually 1-2 days.

An important area of the department's clinical activity is the treatment of retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, dry and wet macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusion, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal traction detachment. When a patient is diagnosed with one of the above, the department's specialists consider possible treatment options. Most often, they choose intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF drugs. This treatment method is sparing and highly effective. Anti-VEGF therapy is usually carried out once a month. The number of procedures is prescribed on an individual basis.

The specialists of the medical facility also regularly perform laser vision correction. In particular, they offer the treatment performed with an excimer laser, LASIK. The department's ophthalmologists perform LASIK procedures for myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism, glaucoma, secondary cataracts, and retinal diseases. The LASIK laser procedure is completely painless. It is performed under local anesthesia with eye drops on an outpatient basis. The duration of the therapeutic manipulation is 10-15 minutes.

The department's team of ophthalmologists also performs blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). This surgical procedure is performed both for clinical indications and for aesthetic reasons. The surgeons of the medical facility operate on patients with entropion, ectropion, and hordeolum (stye). Aesthetic eyelid lifting procedures are particularly popular in the department. Blepharoplasty is performed with the use of modern laser technologies. If necessary, the surgeon can also use the laser to remove layers of muscle and fat deposits. At the end of the procedure, the patient has a natural new eyelid crease without any visible signs of lifting.

The department's clinical focuses include the following:

• Diagnostics and treatment of cataracts
  • Phacoemulsification followed by intraocular lens implantation
• Diagnostics and treatment of glaucoma
  • Treatment with eye drops
  • Selective laser trabeculoplasty
• Diagnostics and treatment of retinal diseases
  • Intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF drugs
• Diagnostics and treatment of refractive errors
  • LASIK laser procedure
• Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)
  • Blepharoplasty for entropion, ectropion, and hordeolum (stye)
  • Eyelid lifting for aesthetic purposes (without any clinical indications)
• Other ophthalmic services