Life without glasses is great
There are numerous innovations in ophthalmology, and new developments continue to emerge—implants, technologies, medicinal products, and procedures. Generally speaking, ophthalmology is one of the most dynamic fields of medicine. At Eye Centre Prague, we continually strive to invest in various innovations and consistently provide our patients with advancements, new methods, and technologies to ensure we deliver truly modern treatment.
We present the latest global innovations and trends that we are already offering to our patients at Eye Centre Prague (OCP).
A significant breakthrough in recent years is OCT angiography (Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography). This revolutionary imaging method for the retina can visualize the condition of individual layers of the retina while also assessing the functionality of all its structures.
"We can visualize the retinal vessels without invasive procedures. Previously, the examination was conducted, or for certain diagnoses still is, by inserting a cannula into the patient's vein, administering a contrast agent, and then taking photographs of the eye background with a special camera. Now, for many diagnoses, this examination is replaced by OCT angiography, where we see the vessels and layers of the retina like a layered cake in depth using simple scans—the patient simply looks into the device," describes MUDr. Radan Zugar, chief physician at Eye Centre Prague.
Thanks to continuous development, global manufacturers of intraocular lenses are coming up with increasingly advanced intraocular implants (intraocular lenses).
“At Eye Centre Prague, we are involved in the development of intraocular lenses. Specifically, we have contributed to the development of two multifocal lenses that are currently being implanted worldwide and have received FDA approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, certifying their use in the USA,” states Dr. Zugar.
Multifocal lenses allow patients to see clearly at distance, intermediate, and reading without glasses. Additionally, with toric intraocular lenses, patients can also correct astigmatism (cylindrical diopters). Aspheric intraocular lenses with a special yellow filter protect the retina from blue and ultraviolet radiation while improving vision in low light and dim conditions.
At our facility, we recently performed a unique glaucoma surgery as the first private center, where we implanted special titanium stents in patients with glaucoma. This microimplant, while being one of the smallest medical implants in the human body, brings about a significant effect.
The new method of treating glaucoma using two unique titanium microimplants, known as the "iStent inject® W," helps patients restore the natural drainage of fluid from the eye and thus manage their intraocular pressure.
"In the Czech Republic, several dozen iStents have been implanted with very good results. In some patients, the need for eye drops to reduce intraocular pressure has completely disappeared, and based on the outcomes observed in patients operated on at our facility, we see sufficient reductions in intraocular pressure," shares Dr. Andrea Janeková, FEBO, regarding her experiences and results with her patients at Eye Centre Prague, where she performs these glaucoma surgeries.
Since this year, we have been one of two private clinics where this procedure is fully covered by health insurance.
A significant advantage of the new glaucoma surgery using the iStent inject® W is that it can be combined with cataract surgery. This effectively allows us to perform two surgeries in one. As a result, we can help the patient address two different eye conditions within a single procedure, which is a tremendous benefit for the patient—essentially, instead of undergoing two surgeries, they only have to undergo "one."
“For patients who are scheduled for cataract surgery, it is possible to perform a so-called combined procedure, where during one operation we first treat the cataract and immediately afterwards implant the microstent,” explains Dr. Janeková.
Eye Centre Prague is a central facility in Prague and the Central Bohemia Region that can provide biological treatment for the retina fully covered by health insurance. This is a modern treatment option for serious retinal diseases using intravitreal injections. Biological therapy is targeted, maximally effective, and its timely application can halt or significantly slow the progression of the disease.
OCP is among the first centers in the Czech Republic currently beginning to apply this new, state-of-the-art biological treatment.
“The advantage of this treatment is its long-term stability and the dual effect of the biological drug. Additionally, thanks to this new treatment, patients with retinal diseases should require fewer intravitreal injections than with previous medications,” explains MUDr. Dana Fillová, head physician of the application and vitreoretinal center at OCP.
Artificial intelligence is now emerging from all directions and is a significant trend in almost every field, including ophthalmology.
"In eye medicine, artificial intelligence is primarily used as a screening method for detecting retinal pathologies, especially diabetic changes and changes associated with macular degeneration. Currently, it is more commonly utilized by general practitioners or diabetologists rather than ophthalmologists. This involves analyzing images of the eye background using AI. As a screening method, AI appears to be very helpful and reliable for the early detection of pathologies. There have also been published studies on the use of AI for monitoring retinal pathologies during therapy, but AI is not yet commonly used in clinical practice for this purpose," explains Dr. Fillová regarding the use of artificial intelligence in ophthalmology.
At Eye Centre Prague, we are involved in the development of Aireen, an artificial intelligence system for detecting retinal pathologies: diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.
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