CAY HILL--Persons in need of eye surgery can now get it done at St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC). SMMC said on Tuesday its Eye Care Clinic has begun performing eye surgery procedures for the first time in more than six years.
The first surgeries in the newly-opened Eye Care Clinic were carried out on December 4, by Ophthalmologist Dr. Jerrel Pawiroredjo and his eye care team.
A total of four successful procedures were performed which included three cases of Cataract surgeries and one case of a minor eyelid surgery. Each surgery was performed in an outpatient setting within the Eye Care Clinic under topical anaesthesia. The newly installed state-of-the-art eye care equipment allowed the team to perform each procedure efficiently and in a short amount of time, SMMC said in a press statement.
Pawiroredjo said initiatives in health care, like this one, demonstrate the innovation and collaboration that continue to improve the health services offered to patients. “This is a terrific example of some more great work to offer better service to patients. We used a new topical anaesthesia which is a new alternative to patients with any other medical issues.”
The Eye Care Clinic will be providing surgeries on a continuous basis to patients. Procedures performed include pterygium, podiatric procedures, eye lid surgery, auto- transplantation and cataract. Cataract surgeries are said to be the most common condition in patients.
“These new advancements in the Eye Care Clinic further underline SMMC’s commitment to expanding medical services on island, as it prepares for the new hospital and to deliver quality care, close to home,” the statement said.
The Eye Care Clinic is located in SMMC’s Care Complex. Patients who wish to see the new eye specialists can make an appointment at the Outpatient Department at tel: 543-1111 ext. 1300/1310 / 1334 or 1345. Appointments can be made from Mondays to Fridays between 8:00am and 4:30pm. SZV patients are requested to obtain a referral letter from their family doctor before visiting the eye specialists.
