ELZA contributed to the recent 2024 SAoO Annual Congress, held at the KKL Lucerne, Switzerland. ELZA’s Medical Director, Prof. Farhad Hafezi co-led the Laser Corneal Surgery course during the meeting, along with PD Dr. François Majo of the Centre Ophtalmologique de la Gare Lausanne (COGL).
The Laser Corneal Surgery course at the SAoO Congress was composed of two sessions, one theoretical and one practical. The theoretical component of the course provided an informative overview of several laser refractive technologies, including PRK and LASIK. It detailed considerations for patient selection and surgical methods, alongside an update on recent advancements in the field.
In the practical session, SAoO delegates engaged in simulated surgical procedures, applying what they had learned about laser surgery techniques. This interactive experience aimed to enhance their understanding and practical skills.
The scope of refractive laser surgery extended from corrective measures post-cataract surgery to the adjustment of astigmatism following keratoplasty, as well as addressing irregular astigmatism caused by various conditions, such as corneal scars or ectasia. A solid grasp of corneal aberrations and biomechanics is essential for mastering these surgical techniques. The course offered initial insights into the practical applications of PTK, transPRK, Femto-LASIK, and lenticule extraction techniques. It included hands-on training with various excimer and femtosecond lasers, providing a foundation for participants to build upon in their clinical practice.
In addition to this, Prof. Hafezi gave lectures on “Hardening the Cornea (CXL)”, and “Refractive surgery to improve the quality of vision in cases of corneal disease”. For both the course and these lectures, Prof. Hafezi drew on his over 20 years of experience with refractive surgery and corneal cross-linking to educate SAoO annual congress delegates on the best ways of handling these corneas.
For more information on Prof. Hafezi, his career, capabilities, and experience, please click here to read his biography.
Overall as a 50 year old, who wanted to continue to avoid wearing glasses and/or contact lenses, my goal was 100% achieved with ELZA and Dr. Hafezi. I greatly appreciated the overall approach by Dr. Hafezi and his friendly and competent team in reviewing my vision at the start and following a comprehensive eye exam- the explanations of my options. For me I chose PRK in one eye for a monovision solution to correct short sightedness which was becoming more prevalent in night driving and sports such as skiing and cycling. PRK heals slowly but the outcome is worth the wait- and the cost- you use your eyes every waking moment- and for me I cannot see any reason not to pursue better vision with the ELZA team! A great quality of life enhancement!
Thank you so much, Dr. Torres and prof. Hafezi. 26 years I was only “dreaming” about the eye surgery due to possible complications. I was worried ..Thank you for encouraging me to make a decision and thank you for your professionalism, explanations and great work!I wish you all the best, lots of success and only happy patients!
I have been to the ELZA clinic to have surgery for my miopy, as my eyes were rejecting the contacts and I was tired of wearing glasses. From the first preliminary visit, to the actual surgery and post-surgery care Dr. Hafezi and all his collaborators have been extremely professional, considerate and helpful. All the steps of the (very short!) surgery were thoroughly explained to me in order to be as calm as possible, together with the medication plan and precautions to be aware of so that my eyes could heal in the best way possible. By following their exact instructions, the healing process has been very successful and smooth, and after about one week I was able to see perfectly. I absolutely recommend this team and their expertise!
After some research on local options I decided to go with ELZA since it stood out as the best. The operation and the post-operation recovery went extremely smooth (something I was worried about with PRK). Now my vision is much better than I had hoped and I have no side effects such as dry eye or night vision problems. Thank you!
My left eye had to be operated on because of a cataract. As I had an Artiflex lens implanted a few years ago, it had to be removed first before a modern lens could be implanted to correct the cataract. Prof. Hafezi treated me in an very competent and friendly manner. I am very happy with the result.
Totally creepy, very arrogant Prof.He just want your money.It may explain, why this Prof. is not in the center of the city of Zürich and why he has been thrown away from University of Geneva.
At the moment, 3 months have passed since the moment I made laser vision correction in this clinic. and I can say that I am happy that I chose this particular clinic and Prof. F. Hafezi. The entire staff of the clinic is very friendly, treats patients with sympathy and patience if they are nervous before surgery (my big gratitude to Aida Alili for all support and patience). The doctor Hafezi and other doctors of the clinic are very professional and ready to explain to you as many times as you need. I can only recommend!
The day I had Prof Hafezi checking my keratoconus I knew I was finally in the right place after years of searching for a good ophthalmologist. Prof Hafezi recommended a surgery due to a drastic degeneration of my cornea. The surgery was performed by himself with the assistance of Dr Rodriguez, one more collaborator of Prof Hafezi’s team who got my full trust.
Professor Hafezi and the team at the ELZA Institute have done an amazing job of creating a first class eye clinic, with cutting edge technology and support. I went there for a dry eye issue and other issues with my prescription, and they were easily able to help me and put me on the road to better vision! High recommend them to anyone in the Zurich/Aargau area.
