{"id":44497,"date":"2024-06-26T06:03:16","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T04:03:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vrystaatkroon\/specialist-has-sights-set-on-helping-sufferers-20240625-2\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T00:35:38","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T22:35:38","slug":"specialist-has-sights-set-on-helping-sufferers-20240625-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vrystaatkroon\/specialist-has-sights-set-on-helping-sufferers-20240625-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Specialist has sights set on helping sufferers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Welkom practice is also ideal for patients from Kroonstad and surrounding areas to receive their treatment. This means they don\u2019t need to travel to Bloemfontein anymore,\u201d he confirms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the past year, several successes were achieved and more patients\u2019 needs could be met. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Van Wyk specialises in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cataract surgery<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lasik (Laser eye surgery)<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

In Lasik, photo-refractive keratectomy (PRK), and similar procedures, laser energy reshapes the curvature of the eye\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vitreoretinal surgery<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diabetic eye screening<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glaucoma screening<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Glaucoma is the most common optic neuropathy in adulthood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The types are open-angle glaucoma (OAG) where the drainage angle in the eye remains open, and closed-angle glaucoma (CAG). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strabismus surgery<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oculoplastic surgery<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Oculoplastics, or oculoplastic surgery, includes a wide variety of surgical procedures that deal with the orbit (eye socket), eyelids, tear ducts and the face. <\/p>\n\n\n\n