Ophthalmology in Iran

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 Iran?

Your length of stay depends on the type of treatment you undergo. In general, you may need to stay in Iran 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 Iran.

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 Iran

Introduction

Iran is a country situated in Western Asia, as well as the second-largest in the Middle East. It is home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world, starting from the fourth millennium BC when the Elamite Kingdoms were formed. Iran is widely known as the jewel in Islam’s crown, filled with awe-inspiring architecture and friendly people. The country is also a popular medical tourism destination due to its efficient healthcare system and experienced specialists. The medical centers in the country keep pace with the latest medical developments and provide top-class services. International medical tourists usually come to Iran for cosmetic procedures, which are currently witnessing a vast growth. Cosmetic procedures in the country, such as rhinoplasty and hair transplant, are performed with advanced scientific techniques and are highly successful. Furthermore, the healthcare cost in the country is a lot more affordable than in many other Western countries.

Popular Cities and Regions in Iran

The capital of Iran, Tehran, is the most populous city in the country. Situated at the foot of the snow-capped Alborz mountain range, the city is filled with museums, restaurants, parks, and friendly people. The most popular landmark in this city is the Azadi Tower, which is the symbol of the city. Besides this tower, visitors can also go to the Tehran City Theater to see its amazing architecture, explore the Treasury of the National Jewels to admire the largest collection of jewels found in the world and visit the Golestan Palace, which is the oldest historic monument in Tehran. Besides Tehran, Tabriz is another popular city and it is a modern industrialized city with a very rich history and historical monuments, such as the Blue Mosque and El Goli.

Transport in Iran

The main international airport is the new Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran. It serves international flights to and from numerous cities around the world, including Dubai, Ankara, London, Bangkok, and Beijing. Budget airlines are operating from this airport, such as Pegasus Airlines and Air Asia. To get around Iran, domestic flights are affordable and fast. Buses and trains are also widely available with extensive networks. Taxis are best for inter-city travel.

Visas in Iran

Iran allows citizens of 16 countries to visit without a visa for up to 90 days, including Armenia, China, and Malaysia. Most citizens of other countries can obtain a visa on arrival. However, visa on arrival does not apply to citizens of 14 other countries, such as the US and the UK.

Weather in Iran

Iran experiences four seasons. Spring (March-May) and autumn (September –October) are pleasant with mild temperatures. Summer (June to August) can be scorching hot, with the temperatures soaring to 37°C. The winter can get bitterly cold as the temperatures drop to 0°C.

Additional Info

1. Local Currency: The official currency is the Iranian rial (IR). 1 USD is approx. 41,921 IR.
2. Money & Payments: You cannot use ATMs, credit or debit cards, or traveler's cheques in Iran. Therefore, bring all you’ll need in cash.
3. Local Language: Persian is the official language in Iran. However, the country has several main languages, including Azerbaijani and Kurdish. Not many people speak English in the country. 
4. Local Culture and Religion: About 99% of Iran’s population is Muslims, with the Shia branch of Islam as the biggest. The two largest non-Muslim religious minorities are Christianity and Bahá'í Faith. 
5. Public holidays:  Islamic Revolution Day, Nature Day, Eid e-Fitr, and Eid-e-Qorban are some of the most important public holidays in Iran.