Entwicklung der okuloplastischen Chirurgie in Kinshasa (Hauptstadt der Demokratischen Republik Kongo)

Abstract

The partnership between Saint Joseph Hospital in Kinshasa (Capital city of DRC) and University Eye Clinic Rostock, Germany exists since 2000. The ophthalmologists from Rostock University performed 12 visits of St. Josef Hospital with the aim to perform oculoplastic surgery in complicated cases as well as to teach the local ophthalmologists. There they performed about 150 surgeries (entropion, ectropion, ptosis, repair of lid injuries, eye lid reconstruction and tumour management, lacrimal surgery) in joint teams. The programme of on-site training was established during this time. Meanwhile, the Kinshasa colleagues are able to perform the basic techniques by themselves. Two colleagues have obtained advanced training in oculoplastics in Rostock. The fruitful cooperation enabled the development of oculoplastic surgery in St. Josef Hospital in Kinshasa. The further education and training proccesses will support the continuous advancement in ophthalmological health care in DRC.

Bilateral paediatric cataract surgery - outcomes of 298 children from Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo

“…The team gradually enlarged their spectrum by incorporating strabismology, oculoplastic, and lacrimal surgery. The results have been published 9 , 10 . In a study published in 2007 which was carried-out in blind schools 10 out of 145 eyes were blind from cataract and the most common reason for blindness was found to be corneal opacification 11 .…”