OFFICIALS of the Cyprus Ophthalmological Society (COS) have criticised advertisements over a revolutionary laser eye surgery machine.
Speaking at a news conference yesterday, the Chairman of the COS, Dr Panicos Philipou, described the recent and very public statements of a local importer who brought over the new laser machine, as “very disturbing” and “untrue”.
“After the comments recently made in the mass media by a certain individual, who is neither a doctor nor a technician, regarding the new and revolutionary laser machine that is currently in Cyprus and can cure ‘almost anything’, the COS feels the need and duty correctly to inform Cypriot citizens and patients on the real picture.”
The General Secretary of the COS, Dr Christos Constantinou, added, “This importer, who apparently had the backing of a doctor, also said that the new laser machine could cure prespyopia,” a visual condition which happens when a person ages and the lens loses ability to adjust itself to focus the image into the retina correctly.
An importer had gone on television a few days ago claiming that a new laser machine was coming to Cyprus capable of curing various myopic and other related conditions.
Philipou added: “Those remarks have triggered unrest, queries, and doubts amongst Cypriot patients and citizens, while at the same time created a huge inconvenience to Cypriot Ophthalmologists as hundreds of people were calling us about this so called revolutionary machine to confirm with us if it is indeed true. To understand how serious this problem was, we even had blind people calling us up and telling us ‘Doctor, did you hear about this incredible machine?’ Imagine the position we were put in having to tell them the truth.”
There are currently four laser treatment centres on the island, two in Nicosia, one in Limassol and one in Larnaca. All of those centres, according to COS officials, are approved by the COS and well known for their excellent records, but they do not need to go around highlighting their achievements on television.
“We do not consider our work a form of advertising like this doctor, but instead our goal is to provide the best service for all of our patients. We obviously welcome any new technology aimed at helping people, but it has to be authentic and not fabricated as was the case in the last few days. If it was authentic they would have come to us first instead of just blaring it out on the television news,” said Specialist Surgeon Ophthalmologist Dr Georgios Koursaris.
That doctor and the whole incident has been reported to the Medical Association, with COS officials saying he would be penalised for his action.
“We spoke twice by phone with this importer of the machine and he has already admitted to us that he has made a mistake.”
The four types of laser surgery on the island are PRK, LASIK, LASEK and EPILASIK, with PRK and LASIK the most popular types of laser surgery worldwide, although EPILASIK is considered to be a rising solution for many patients with eyesight problems.
n Cyprus Ophthalmological Society, Larnaca Hospital, Eye Department, Larnaca, 24-630300
