Knowing that cataract is the main cause of preventable or avoidable blindness in the world, Fundación Oftalmológica del Valle has as its flagship program the detection and surgery of patients with cataract.
The lens of the eye, a lens that is behind the pupil and is normally transparent, becomes opaque as the patient ages.
A person with cataract gradually begins to see clouds or mist and their daily activities become difficult to carry out.
A quick surgery (30 minutes), performed using only local anaesthesia, can allow a patient who is blind or has poor vision due to cataract to see normally again.
Our cataract patients receive priority appointments for consultation and surgery. Costs vary in order to provide access to patients of all socioeconomic conditions.
We strongly focus on training interested professionals in prevention of blindness and eyecare. We have the necessary human resources and a modern auditorium with capacity for 50 people, where we conduct seminars and workshops.
We believe that training can contribute to improved knowledge of pathologies and increased awareness.
We have a well structured training program for general practitioners, ophthalmologists, ophthalmic nurses and ophthalmic assistants. Duration can vary from 1 month to 11 months.
We hold regular talks for patients, family members, teachers, nurses, children, doctors, and community leaders. We are recognized by the IAPB as a national and international training center.
Diabetes affects more and more people, especially in developed cities due to unhealthy diets and higher stress levels. In 2014, the number of diabetics globally was almost four times higher than in 1980. One of the alterations that diabetes causes in humans is damage to the back layer of the eye called the retina.
https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes
Diabetic patients, especially those with the disease for more than 5 years, are prone to alterations in the retina of the eye that can lead to blindness.
Our foundation has a well-defined program for the prevention, detection, timely diagnosis and treatment of patients with diabetic retinopathy..
One of the most relevant programs is eye and visual health in school children. With the endorsement of the Ministries of Education and Health, scheduled visits are made to public schools in urban and rural areas of different provinces of Ecuador. Those identified with pathologies or refractive errors are referred to our foundation for a complete ophthalmological check-up.
In this program, triangulation with teachers, parents and doctors is very important to achieve the delivery of glasses for the correction of significant refractive errors, in addition to training, prevention and awareness on the part of all those involved about the importance of annual check-ups.
Visits are completely free and there is a significant subsidy for glasses.
Fundación Oftalmológica del Valle has a community program for the detection of ocular pathologies. We periodically make visits to different communities after approaching political and civil society leaders in a community.
Patients with treatable pathologies are referred to either our base clinic or satellite clinics for treatment.