Dr Niel van Wyk, well-known ophthalmologist from Bloemfontein, has opened the Welkom Eye and Laser Centre, which has been operational for more than a year.
Van Wyk says that due to a need and high demand for an eye-care specialist in the Goldfields and surrounding areas, he decided to open the centre in Welkom. Van Wyk says the practice in Welkom is fully equipped to perform all functions and administer every form of treatment that would normally be conducted at his practice in Bloemfontein.
“The Welkom practice is also ideal for patients from Kroonstad and surrounding areas to receive their treatment. This means they don’t need to travel to Bloemfontein anymore,” he confirms.
In the past year, several successes were achieved and more patients’ needs could be met.
An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye disease, who deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eyeball and orbit. Ophthalmologists are trained to perform eye exams, diagnose and treat disease, prescribe medications and perform eye surgery.
They differ from optometrists and opticians in their level of training, and in what they can diagnose and treat. As a medical doctor who has completed university studies and has at least eight years of additional medical training, an ophthalmologist is licensed to practice medicine and surgery.
Van Wyk specialises in:
Cataract surgery
In this surgery, the lens inside your eye that has become cloudy is removed and replaced with an artificial lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL), to restore clear vision.
Lasik (Laser eye surgery)
In Lasik, photo-refractive keratectomy (PRK), and similar procedures, laser energy reshapes the curvature of the eye’s clear front surface (cornea) to alter the way light rays enter the eye. Artificial lenses surgically inserted into the eye can also refocus light rays to sharpen vision.
Vitreoretinal surgery
This refers to any operation to treat eye problems involving the retina, macula, and vitreous fluid. These include retinal detachment, a macular hole, an epiretinal membrane, and complications related to diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic eye screening
All diabetics are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. This is caused when diabetes affects the small blood vessels in the retina, the part of the eye that acts similarly to a film in a camera.
Glaucoma screening
Glaucoma is the most common optic neuropathy in adulthood.
It is defined as an optic neuropathy associated, in most cases, with elevated intraocular pressure, although the pressure may be within the normal range, with or without anatomic predisposing factors in the anterior chamber.
The types are open-angle glaucoma (OAG) where the drainage angle in the eye remains open, and closed-angle glaucoma (CAG).
Strabismus surgery
This surgery, extending to extraocular muscle surgery, eye muscle surgery, or eye alignment surgery, is surgery on the extraocular muscles to correct the misalignment of the eyes.
Oculoplastic surgery
Oculoplastics, or oculoplastic surgery, includes a wide variety of surgical procedures that deal with the orbit (eye socket), eyelids, tear ducts and the face.
- Van Wyk matriculated at the Kroonstad High School in 2001, commencing with his studies as a medical doctor at the University of the Free State (UFS) the following year. Here, he was one of only three candidates to be selected for a Golden Key award.
In 2006, he attained a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree at the UFS. From 2007 to 2008, he completed his internship at the Tygerberg Hospital.
He then moved to Kimberley to complete his compulsory community service in 2009. In 2010, he was appointed as a medical officer at the ophthalmology clinic in Kimberley, attaining a diploma in Ophthalmology in March that year.
On 1 October 2010, he was appointed as the senior medical officer of an eye clinic in Kroonstad.
Van Wyk passed part one of the exam in Ophthalmology in March 2011. In January 2012, he commenced with his training as an ophthalmologist at the UFS. During this time, he took part in several research projects and helped with cataract surgery tours as part of outreach projects run by the Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness in South Africa.
He passed the second part of the Ophthalmology exam in September 2013, and passed his final exam in October 2015 to obtain a Fellowship of the College of Ophthalmologist of South Africa (FC Ophth SA) and MMed degrees in ophthalmology.
Van Wyk has a special interest in cornea refractive surgery and Lasik, vitreoretinal surgery, advanced and high-volume cataract surgery, glaucoma and oculoplastic surgery, and strabismus. Being up-to-date with the latest in the medical field, he can offer the best possible advice. He is registered with the HPCSA, CMSA, SAMA, SAGS, SASCRS and the SAVRS.
The Welkom Eye and Laser Centre is located at 26 Lategan Street, Welkom, across from the Mediclinic Welkom. Dial 057-004-0019.
