“Some chemo or radiotherapy treatments can cause problems like dry eye, cataracts, macular or optic nerve toxicity. To prevent these the Ophthalmology Service promoted the setting up of the unit to care for the eye health of patients with head and neck tumors who are undergoing these cancer treatments” explains Dr. Ismael Nieva of MD Anderson Madrid Ophthalmology Service.
In addition to the eye health unit, MD Anderson Madrid Ophthalmology Service is known for specializing in a multidisciplinary approach to eye tumors. This type of tumors can affect the eye itself, the eyelids and surrounding skin or the socket and tear duct. The most common eye tumor is that of the eyelid, which in 90% of cases is a basal cell carcinoma.
To treat this tumor, patients are offered advanced microsurgery techniques, such as Mohs micrographic surgery. Due to their predominantly multidisciplinary approach, MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid is one of the few hospitals in Spain carrying out this technique. “Through the Dermatology Service and together with the hospital’s specialists from Anatomical Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, we apply Mohs surgery in a single session to remove the lesion, analyze it under the microscope to be sure of removing the tumor completely and then begin reconstruction of the site”, states Dr. Nieva.
Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of other eye diseases and disorders
Moreover, the Ophthalmology Service at MD Anderson Madrid is made up of specialists in the treatment and prevention of eye diseases beyond those of cancer. The new service stands out for carrying out microincision cataract surgery, refractive surgery and early diagnosis and monitoring of glaucoma and Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
“Early diagnosis is vital in both the treatment of the glaucoma patient and the ARMD patient. In the case of glaucoma we use non-perforating microsurgery and drainage systems that allow intraocular pressure to be relieved. With ARMD we use the anti-VEGF intravitreal injection, a new technique to treat choroidal neovascularization (CNV) (exudative or wet ARMD), which is the most common cause of loss of central vision in those over 55”, stresses Dr. Basilio Moreno, MD Anderson Madrid Ophthalmologist.
Unit specialized in esthetic eye surgery and eyelid reparation
In addition, the Ophthalmology Service at MD Anderson Madrid has an esthetic surgery and eye repair unit aimed at rejuvenating the eyes (upper and lower blepharoplasty), reparation of functional defects of the static (when the edge of one of the eyelids folds away from the surface of the eye) or dynamic (drooping upper lid), reparation of the socket and eyelids to correctly fit eye prostheses in case of evisceration (removal of the cornea and eye contents) and/or enucleation (removal of the eyeball).
“The ocular esthetic surgery and eyelid reparation unit works with specialists offering patients their knowledge on surgical correction of all congenital, acquired, tumor or simply involutional processes of the eyes”, concludes Dr. Juan de Sahaun Riba, MD Anderson Madrid Ophthalmologist.