The 5th of April 2024 we celebrated the 25th anniversary of refractive surgery at ICR, during our weekly clinical session. Since 1998 the team, the facilities, the technology, the surgical techniques and the number of intervened have evolved and grown up until now, when we are referent nationally.
The main drivers of this department, Dr. Francesc Duch, Dr. Mercè Martí and optometrist Raimon Escudé, were in charge of summerizing these first 25 years during the session. All throught the presentation there were several moments to remember Dr Dr. Ramon Martí i Bonet, founder of ICR and the mind behind the project of refractive surgery as a part of ICR Ophthalmology Center.
The auditorium of the College of Physicians of Barcelona witnessed a session with a large audience and plenty of room for nostalgia, the recognition of well-done job and congratulations.
The project began in 1998, with the three previously mentioned professionals and only the essential equipment: a laser, a microkeratome, and a basic topographer. Consultations were held in the old building on Pau Alcover street, and surgeries were performed at an external clinic.
Technology has continually advanced, and since the beginning of refractive surgery at ICR, the types of lasers (from a microkeratome to a femtosecond laser) and diagnostic equipment used (increasingly comprehensive topographers) have been updated as improvements have emerged. Treatments have been optimized for the patient, so over the years, aspects such as the duration of the surgery or the postoperative period in some techniques have been improved.
As a result, the outcomes have also improved over the years. In a comparison of results between 2002 and 2022, Raimon Escudé, DOO, showed how the percentage of patients achieving good visual acuity has significantly increased in the last year compared to 2002.
Dr. Duch, Dr. M. Martí and optometrist Escudé in front of Dr. Martí’s portrait. The four of them were catalysts of the Refractive Surgery Department.
Currently, close to 2,000 surgeries are performed every year, a significantly high level compared to similar centers.
The refractive surgery team consists of highly qualified professionals specialized in various techniques; different members frequently attend national and international conferences, offer lectures, and publish studies in this field. Numerous doctoral theses and scientific publications have also originated from the department.
Patient satisfaction is also very high: in recent years, we have continued to receive gratitude from patients and positive reviews regarding refractive surgery. Currently, the center’s average rating on Google is 4.3 out of 5.
At ICR we use the most cutting edge technology, whether for diagnostic tests, surgical procedures or treatment. We are also committed to minimally invasive surgery, which allows for faster patient recovery.
Refractive surgery aims to correct refractive errors, such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism or presbyopia to obtain a good visual quality and to avoid depending on the use of glasses or contact lenses.
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