Aleksandar Veselinovic 2014 Grant Report

First of all, I would like to express my appreciation to the European Society of Ophthalmology, for giving me this opportunity to advance and develop my skills and knowledge by being a part of the team at the Fundación Oftalmológica del Mediterráneo, Valencia,Spain. It represents a significant experience for me and a step forward in the field of ophthalmology for my further professional engagement.

My name is Aleksandar Veselinovic. I am a fourth-year ophthalmology resident from Serbia.

During the period from 3 November to 3 December 2013, I spent four weeks at Vitreo-retinal unit. Prof. Dr. Ampea Navaro, Director of  Fundación Oftalmológica del Mediterráneo warmly welcomed me, expressed high level of generosity and patience, and I spent most of my time with her in the operating room, where I attended various surgeries. She introduced me to the patients with retinal detachment, macular holes, diabetic retinopathy as well as with the patients after treatment, and in addition, with particular cases of cataract and glaucoma. At the theatre, I was present at a surgery related to retinal detachment, macular holes, peeling of epiretinal membrane, congenital cataracts, vitrectomy with insertion of gas, silicone oil, scleral buckling, cryopexy, medial rectus resection and lateral rectus recession, all performed by Dr. Amparo Navea, and her team. Moreover, I was happy to be present at the operation of patients with high myopia about macular hole which was made for the first time in Spain – with the use of special buckling.

I’d also like to mention the other excellent experts of the host hospital team, including Dr. M. Carmen Desco, Dr. Elena Palacios-Pozo, Dr.Jorge Mataix  and dr Adriana Fandino. They significantly contributed to my development, by teaching me key features of Age Related Macular Degeneration and Retinopathy of Diabetic. Even though the hospital was crowded with patients, they would always be patient and managed to provide explanations of every OCT, FFA and ICG. Additionally, at the laser theatre they introduced me to a technique of PDT and Anti-VEGF therapy and took me to the surgery of retina and cataract.

In cooperation with Dr. Mataix I examined patients with tumours of the anterior and posterior parts of the eye and retrobulbar part using both indirect ophthalmoscopy and ultrasound. I learnt how to determine the correct size of tumours and observe it after brachytherapy.  Additionally, I assisted him during the brachytherapy forchoroidal melanomas, delivered with an iodine-125 at the Oncology Clinic, which represent a valuable experience for me as it contributes to improving my present knowledge.

In the last week of my sojourn, I delivered a lecture on my country, Serbian health care system and my clinic in Nis. Needless to say, all the colleagues in the host hospital were very supportive, kind and willing to share their knowledge, and thus address all my questions.

Finally, I once again use the occasion to thank European Society of Ophthalmology which provided me with the scholarship and thus allowed me to gain this valuable experience which I will certainly employ in the further treatment of patients in Serbia.