Dr. Bettina Sommer, FEBO

An orthoptist who runs our vision school every day carries out expert examinations of children from infancy onwards in our practice.

This allows a congenital disorder to be identified early on. If a squint occurs, it is diagnosed professionally and treatment is initiated in accordance with the stage in which it is present together with the parents.

There are also forms of squint in adulthood or in old age that result in double vision. There are diagnosis-specific forms of therapy for this, which can also include squint surgery.

We are happy to advise you on all possible methods and work together to determine the best possible form of therapy for you.

Our practice offers ophthalmological care and special examination options for every requirement:

• we carry out an eye test and prescribe glasses if necessary.
• we participate in glaucoma screening using tension measurement. We also offer special diagnostics to
  differentiate the findings:
• is it ocular hypertension without danger to the optic nerve
• or is there a risk of optic nerve damage due to normal pressure,
• low pressure or open angle glaucoma?
• If glaucoma is already known, we offer precise monitoring using perimetry (= visual field examination) and OCT technology to measure the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (=NFA) and measure the corneal thickness (= pachymetry).
• OCT technology is also useful for macular diagnostics. Here we can quickly and easily establish the indication for IVOM therapy and initiate the therapy.
• We would be happy to advise you on independent monitoring in cases of known familial macular degeneration and provide you with precise instructions and materials.
• A cataract (= clouding of the lens) can be diagnosed using our devices. We provide independent advice on different artificial lenses and the optimal time for surgery.

Laser is an abbreviation and means: “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation”.

In our practice we use the argon laser with its thermal effects, for example for acute treatment of retinopexy
(welding of tissue layers) in the case of a retinal hole in order to prevent retinal detachment. This laser is also used for diabetic retinopathy or after thrombosis in order to prevent new blood vessels from forming.

In addition, we have the option of using a neodymium-YAG laser to treat a so-called secondary cataract (= clouding of the lens capsule after cataract surgery) by means of a precisely defined, narrowly defined photodisruption (= tissue tearing): This is also the treatment option for an acute attack of glaucoma using an iridectomy.

In addition, three-dimensional imaging procedures are possible with the laser, such as: B. the so-called optical coherence tomography (= OCT), which can be used to measure the thickness of the cornea, an exact representation of the macula or a nerve fiber thickness measurement in the area of ​​the optic nerve.

In children and adults

If you have a squint that cannot be satisfactorily corrected with glasses or prisms, a squint operation should be performed. This then enables you to have binocular vision again or it serves as a psychosocial rehabilitation, so that the operation is always a service provided by your health insurance company – both private and statutory health insurance.

We carry out these operations on an outpatient basis in the Herzog Carl Theodor Eye Clinic at Nymphenburgerstrasse 43 in Munich, Neuhausen. For this purpose, the patient is examined in advance by our orthoptist in our practice. We discuss the type of squint with you in detail using a model and then explain the planned procedure to you.

A preliminary examination to determine suitability for surgery is carried out beforehand by your family doctor or pediatrician using a set protocol. The experienced team of anesthesiologists and surgical assistants from the eye clinic are on hand during the operation. I carry out the operation using a small incision technique, the so-called MISS technique, so that the healing process can proceed quickly.

Of course, we also work with the children’s departments of the University Eye Clinic Rechts der Isar and the LMU. In the case of a rare disease or if inpatient monitoring is required, patients are referred there with a detailed doctor’s report and can return to our outpatient care at any time after successful discharge.