Ophthalmology in Argentina

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine and surgery that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. Medically trained doctors who care for patients who have eye and vision conditions are called ophthalmologists and are the only practitioners diagnosed and trained to treat all eye and vision problems. Their practice is very diverse, dealing with a wide range of issues and clinical conditions. Some of the most common conditions that they treat and manage include:

• Minor and major eye injuries
• Infectious eye disease
• Dry eyes
• Proptosis (bulged eyes)
• Glaucoma 
• Cataracts 
• Corneal pathology 
• Retinal problems, such as bleeding and detachment or tears of the retina
• Squints 
• Eye-related neurological problems
• Excessive tearing
• Intraocular inflammation
• Chronic eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

An ophthalmologist can offer a wide range of medical services, including surgical eye procedures. Some of the most common procedures that ophthalmologists perform are as follows:

• Eye examinations.
• Specialized tests, such as ultrasonography of the eyes and optical coherence tomography (OCT).
• Refractive surgery to correct vision, such as LASIK.
• Cataract surgery.
• Glaucoma surgery.
• Cancer treatment.
• Reconstructive surgery to repair birth abnormalities or trauma, such as crossed eyes.
• Neoplasm removal.
• Corneal transplants.
• Repairing torn or detached retinas.
• Strabismus surgery.
• Oculoplastic surgery (plastic surgery around the eye).
• Prescribing and fitting glasses and contact lenses.

How Long Should I Stay in Argentina?

Your length of stay depends on the type of treatment you undergo. In general, you may need to stay in Argentina for at least a week or to let your eyes recover and to attend follow-up checkups, where your ophthalmologist checks your condition and make sure that your eyes are healing properly. If everything is fine, they will allow you to leave for home. However, for some surgery, such as retinal detachment surgery, you should avoid flying until your eyes have fully healed. Therefore, it is best that you wait 3 to 4 weeks, sometimes even longer, before you travel home.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery time depends on the type of surgery you underwent, your age, and overall health. It is generally recommended to rest your eyes for a few days. With LASIK, you may be able to return to work after a day. After a corneal transplant, you should wait for 2 to 3 weeks until you go back to work. 

What Aftercare is Required?

Your ophthalmologist will give you instructions to care for your eye after the procedure. It is crucial that you follow all of them to have a quick recovery and obtain optimum results. To keep the result or to prevent complications, you will need to make some lifestyle changes, such as avoid smoking and staying active. You also need to attend regular checkups, typically once a year, with your local eye doctor or your ophthalmologist in Argentina.

What's the Success Rate?

Thanks to the continuous advancement of ophthalmology, eye treatments, and surgeries are now highly successful and safe. For instance, the latest research of LASIK showed that it has a 99% success rate in achieving 20/40 vision or better, whereas the success rate of corneal transplant is as high as 90%. However, it is important to be aware of the risks and side effects of eye treatments and surgeries, such as dry eyes, temporary visual problems, overcorrections, under correction, astigmatism, regression, and, very rarely, vision loss.

Are there Alternatives?

For some eye problems, you may be able to go to an optometrist as an alternative. However, if your conditions need to be treated through surgery, your optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist.

Ophthalmology in and around Argentina

Introduction

Argentina is beautiful and intriguing, the country’s cultural diversity, coupled with its beautiful nature, ensures a wide-ranging natural and cultural experience for tourists. Today, Argentina is emerging as one of the most important destinations in the world for medical tourism. Today, you will find highly-experienced healthcare professionals, medical centers with cutting-edge technology, personalized patient care, and high-quality services. The majority of medical tourists in this country arrive from Latin American countries, the USA, and Canada. These medical tourists travel to Argentina to undergo dentistry, bariatric surgery, breast implants, and ophthalmology.    

Popular Cities and Regions in Argentina

Known as the ‘Paris of South America,’ Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city in Argentina. It is known for its heavy European influence, which makes it diverse and vibrant. In this lively city, you will be welcomed with a dynamic food scene, magnificent architecture, colorful murals, lively nightlife, and glamorous tango. One of the most popular places in Argentina, besides Buenos Aires, in Córdoba, which is a fascinating city with a blend of old and new. In this city, you can find DJs spinning electro-tango next to 17th century Jesuit ruins. Another famous tourist destination is Mendoza. Filled with atmospheric plazas, leady avenues, and cosmopolitan cafes, this city captivates its tourists by its laid-back vibe. Those looking to relax on a beach should definitely visit Mar del Plata or Pinamar, where you can soak up some sun and have a lot of fun.

Transport in Argentina

Ezeiza International Airport is the largest airport in Argentina, located in Greater Buenos Aires. It connects the country with almost every country in the world, such as the US, Mexico, France, the UK, and the UAE. Since Argentina is very large, traveling around the country is easier with domestic flights. However, buses are popular among those who want to appreciate the country’s landscape. The best way to travel inside cities is by renting a car.

Visas in Argentina

Citizens of several countries, including Brazil, Ecuador, and the US, can visit and stay in Argentina without a visa for up to 90 days. Most other nationalities need to apply and obtain a visa to enter the country.

Weather in Argentina

Given the immense size of the country, the weather varies widely from one region to another. Buenos Aires tends to be hot from December to March, but it is very pleasant to visit between July and August. The south of Argentina is nice to visit from December to March, while July and August tend to be very cold. North Argentina has three climate zones and areas around the Iguazu Falls are generally tropical with humid weather.

Additional Info

1. Local Currency: Argentine peso (ARS) is the official currency. 1 USD is equivalent to 62 ARS. 
2. Money & Payments: You can find ATMs in nearly every city in Argentina. Most hotels, restaurants, and stores in major cities accept credit cards (Visa and MasterCard).
3. Local Language: Spanish is the main language in the country. English is also widely spoken as it is obligatory in primary school.
4. Local Culture and Religion: Argentina is an overwhelmingly Christian country. Only a small percentage of the population practices other religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. 
5. Public holidays: Public holidays in Argentina usually include Catholic based holidays, such as Christmas, although other religious holidays such as the Islamic New Year is celebrated. The country also celebrates historic holidays, such as Independence Day.