New branch of the Kazakh Research Institute of Eye Diseases opened in Astana
The event has been attended by representatives of Nur Otan Party and Akimat of Astana city, deputies of the Parliament and the city Maslikhat. Welcoming remarks were made by foreign ophthalmologists including the vice-president of the Russian glaucoma society, chief ophthalmologist of St. Petersburg - Professor Y.Astakhov, Secretary General of the European Collegium of Ophthalmologists Professor E. Midena. It was noted that the Kazakh Research Institute of Eye Diseases, as head ophthalmology center of the country, has a rich 80-year history. Capital branch of the Institute operates for more than 4 years providing highly specialized eye care within the guaranteed volume of free medical care for population of northern regions of Kazakhstan (North Kazakhstan, East Kazakhstan, Karaganda, Akmola, Kostanay, Aktobe, Pavlodar regions and the city of Astana). The branch is actively cooperating with the city perinatal center for screening and treatment of children with retinopathy of prematurity. "Moving to the new building with the area of 3200 square meters will expand the range of both therapeutic and diagnostic ophthalmic services and introduce the latest technology in cataract surgery and refractive vision correction. There have been acquired modern equipment including a femtosecond laser for cataract surgery and refractive surgery as well as a high-resolution optical coherence tomograph," the statement reads. The new building of the branch of the Kazakh Research Institute of Eye Diseases includes adult and children's wards, day hospital, consultative and diagnostic department, a laser center, a laboratory for training ophthalmologists. Recall that according to the World Health Organization, there are 285 million people in the world with visual impairment including 39 million blind persons. About 56 thousand visually impaired persons are registered in Kazakhstan.