Ledia Dine, Albania, obsevership grant report from University Hospital “Sveti Duh”, Zagreb,Croatia

I would like to express my gratitude to the SOE Educational Committee for awarding me the educational grant for Ophthalmologists-in-training. I have spent four  weeks as an observership at the University Hospital “Sveti Duh”,Zagreb, Croatia.

As a public University Hospital they have anterior segment (cataract surgery, contact lenses, and transplantation program), vitreoretinal and medical retina, electrophysiology, oculoplastic, glaucoma ,pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus units.  

I was impressed by the organization of outpatient and surgical schedules. I had a chance to see how all departments work, observed diagnostic and operative techniques .

I walked into a very friendly work environment every day, met excellent  ophthalmologists and residents who provided step-by-step guidance and approached all of my questions with patience and attention.

I spent most of my training in subspecialty of medical retina ,observing and learning from Dr. V. Brzovic Saric so  I had the possibility to improve my knowledge. Also I had a chance to participate in vitreo-retinal surgery thanks to Prof.dr.sc.Bosnar, who explained everything to me without hesitation. 

Two other weeks I spent  in Pediatric Ophthalmology and had the chance to observe Strabismus surgery and diagnostic methods in pediatric ophthalmology .

In the end I want to thank Professor Mirjana Bjelos for hospitality, and organising  my whole schedule around my needs.

I encourage residents and young ophthalmologists to apply for the SOE grant.