Pterygium Surgery

A pterygium is a fleshy growth which starts on the white part of the eye and slowly grows across onto the cornea (the clear lens that covers the coloured part of the eye). A pterygium may cause a foreign body sensation, dryness or redness of the eye. People who have spent a lot of time in the sun have a greater chance of developing a pterygium, and so they are quite common in Queensland.

Surgery involves excision of the pterygium and covering the exposed area with conjunctiva taken from under the top eyelid of the same eye. This helps create a whiter eye post operatively while dramatically reducing recurrence. The cornea is carefully preserved so that induced astigmatism does not occur, and drugs are applied to the surface of the eye to prevent scar formation

Cataract Surgery

A cataract causes clouding of the lens in your eye. The lens is located behind the iris which is the coloured part of the eye, and works like the lens of a camera. Cataracts are caused by the aging process, sun damage, or may be congenital. Cataracts cause images to be blurred, seeing at night is more difficult, and glasses or contact lenses no longer seem to help with reading or simple tasks.

Surgery is performed by removing the old, clouded lens, and replacing it with an artificial lens. This surgery is performed to a high level of definition by using Spherical intraocular lenses and Toric intraocular lenses, for patients with pre-existing astigmatism, to reduce their dependence on spectacles post operatively.

Corneal Transplantation

Dr Apel performs all methods of corneal transplantation including full thickness transplantation. The operation is a day procedure and takes around 1 hour, but patients are usually at the Hospital for about 3 hours. The operation involves removing a circle of the cornea. A donor cornea of similar size and thickness is then attached to the remaining rim of the cornea using zigzag running stitches.

A DSEK procedure is used when full thickness transplantation is not required. Donor tissue is also required for this procedure. This procedure is used whenever possible, as there is little risk of rejection, faster healing, and quicker visual recovery following surgery. A DSEK procedure is particularly relevant in patients with Fuch's Dystrophy and patients who have had rejection with past corneal transplants.

Refractive Surgery

Dr Apel performs all types of refractive surgery which enables patients to enjoy vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses. In addition to the well known LASIK procdeure, Dr Apel also performs lens and implant based procedures which are similar to cataract surgery, but performed for refractive error. He also uses the Visian implantable contact lenses. These lenses work in a similar way to a contact lens, except that the lens is placed inside the eye, rather than on the surface. ICL surgery may be advisable for patients who are not suitable for laser treatment, for example, thin corneas, dry eyes, or large pupils.

Links

http://www.qldeye.com
http://qlv.rtrk.com.au
http://www.casa.gov.au
http://www.geteyesmart.org
http://www.allaboutvision.com/lasik-surgeons/queensland-brisbane.htm

Dr Andrew Apel

Dr Andrew Apel has been serving the community as an opthalmologist since 1994.

Dr Apel completed his ophthalmology training in Brisbane, then undertook a two year Corneal and External Diseases Fellowship at the University of Toronto, Canada from 1992-1994. He has over 15 years experience in treating medical and surgical conditions of the anterior segment of the eye. He has published many articles, reviewed journals, lectured internationally, and teaches at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. Dr Apel is an Aviation Medical Examiner (DAMO) for CASA and examines the ocular health of pilots and air traffic controllers. As well as his busy private practices in Brisbane and Ipswich, Dr Apel is a Senior Consultant at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. He performs procedures in relation to anterior segment surgery which include Cataract Surgery, Corneal Transplantation, Pterygium Surgery and Refractive Surgery

Contact Us

2nd Floor,
113 Wickham Tce,
Brisbane Q 4000
P (07) 3831 8606

1st Floor Ipswich Tower,
15 Gordon St,
Ipswich Q4305
P (07) 3202 3334