Ophthalmology in Vilnius

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 Vilnius?

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

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 Vilnius

About Vilnius

Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania and is also the largest city in the country, with a population of around 564,147. Vilnius was once referred to as the ‘Jerusalem of the north’ but the Jewish community was largely wiped out in WWII. The city does not hide its battle relics. Tourists will find museums dedicated to the Holocaust and preserved the KGB torture chamber. Other than its fascinating history, Vilnius also offers spectacular architecture, trendy bars, and hot-air balloons.

Vilnius is emerging as a medical tourism destination. Every year, medical tourism in Vilnius continues to expand and evolve. Medical treatments in Vilnius are gaining a powerful reputation among medical tourists. The vast majority of the medical tourists coming to Vilnius are from the Middle East, the United States, and Western Europe. Many tourists travel for Breast Augmentation or other cosmetic surgery. Kardiolita Hospital is one of the most popular medical facilities in the city. There are many reasons why local and international medical tourists come to Vilnius, including:

• Medical facilities with international standards such as JCI accreditation.
• Highly educated doctors and medical practitioners.
• Comprehensive diagnosis in just a single day.
• Foreign language speaking doctors and health care staff.
• Modern and secure equipment.
• Affordable prices for a wide range of medical treatment.

Popular Areas in Vilnius

Vilnius is a driving force behind Lithuania’s tourism sector. The city has affordable attractions, accommodations, and restaurants, Historical landmarks, extraordinary architecture, green spaces, and an array of cafes making the city a special place to visit.

• Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania is located in the heart of Vilnius. The building has a Renaissance, Gothic, and early Baroque architectural styles. The reconstructed palace is now transformed into a museum with 4 exhibition tour routes related to the historical functions. A guided tour is in English, Russian, and German is available for tourists.
• Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights (KGB Museum) is a museum with the darkest history in Vilnius. It is located in the former KGB building and preserved exactly how the KGB officers left the building. A museum is an excellent place for tourists who want to learn more about history.
• Antakalnis Cemetery in Vilnius is arguably one of the most interesting graveyards in Europe. The cemetery is the final resting place of Lithuanian leaders and locals lost to war. The most notable monuments are the Memorial of Red Army Soldiers and the monument of the victims of January 13, 1991.
• Gediminas’ Tower of the Upper Castle is the remnant of a brick castle built by the Duke of Lithuania, Vytautas Magnum. Tourists can get onto the top of the Gediminas Hill by foot or by the provided modern lift. While in the modern lift, tourists can see panoramic views of Vilnius along with the River Neris.

Weather and Climate in Vilnius

Summers in Vilnius is warm and dry, with occasional showers and chilly days. Summers are short, lasting for around two months from June to August. The average temperature in the summer is around 11 °C to 22 °C. Summers are usually the busiest time for the city’s tourism.

Although autumn is exceptionally beautiful and has many sunny days, the temperature will cool down rapidly during this season. It can get as low as -1°C in mid-November.

The winters are freezing when the average temperature plummets to -9°C. The temperature will remain below zero until March. Winters in the city can be an amazing time. However, it can be difficult in rural areas.

Spring usually arrives late in April and does not last very long. The temperature in Spring is cool and the green spaces are blossoming.  

Getting Around in Vilnius

Vilnius International Airport is the largest airport in Lithuania that connects the country with European cities. It is the hub for air Baltic and Get Jet Airlines. The airport serves many major airlines, as well as budget airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz Air.

Tourists can take the airport taxis to the city center. The taxis can be found in front of the arrivals terminal. A ride to the city center should cost around 10 EUR to 18 EUR. The city bus is another option to travel to Vilnius city center. It is more affordable than taxis, with a single ticket costs around 1EUR.

Walking is the best mode of transportation for exploring the Old Town. A good portion of Vilnius’s attractions is located within walking distance. Buses and trolleybuses are also available, tickets cost 1 EUR which can be paid directly to the driver. Taxis are not very recommended because many taxi drivers are known to cheat foreigners. Uber is available.

Tourist Visas in Vilnius

European Union citizens, American, Canadian, Australian, and British can stay in Vilnius for up to 90 days. Citizens of other countries must apply and obtain a visa before entering Lithuania

The country is part of the Schengen Area, tourists who already hold a Schengen visa does not have to apply for a new visa to enter Lithuania. A passport valid for at least three months beyond the length of stay is required.

Additional Information

1. Local Currency: Since Lithuania adopted the euro in 2015, the official currency is the euro. 1 USD is equivalent to 0.88 EUR.
2. Money & Payments: Tourists can withdraw money from ATMs. Visa and MasterCard credit cards are mostly accepted in hotels and restaurants. Tourists can tip 10% in restaurants if the service is good. Always tip in cash even when you’re paying with credit or debit cards.
3. Local Language: The official language is Lithuanian. Most people in the tourism area and the younger generation can speak English fluently. A large number of the population also speaks Russian and Polish.
4. Local Culture and Religion: Christianity (specifically Catholic) is the major religion in Vilnius. Small groups of the population follow Judaism, Islam, and other religions.
5. Public Holidays: Vilnius celebrates major Christian religious holidays. The city also hosts many annual festivals such as Capital Days in September, Culture Night and Trakai Medieval Festival in June, Street Musician’s Day in May, and Independence Day of the Republic of Uzupis in April.