Good Eyesight is a Great Privilege - Not a Right

1. Good EyEsiGht is a GrEat PrivilEGE - Not a riGht Few people ever go through life without the need for some or other form of medical attention or assistance. This means you need to know who the best GP is for your needs and those of your kids, you need to know who to approach the moment your hearing is no longer so great – and also the professionals that look after your eyesight. It is important to understand that good eyesight is a great privilege and not a right; therefore one needs to be aware of what the issues are that may affect eyesight – or those issues related to the eyes and the areas around the eyes, for example. Many of us see those medical professionals that offer advice and assistance with regard to our eyes – and issues that can impact good sight negatively. This can happen when we are young; therefore parents are aware of their children’s needs in this regard, and the first person they will normally see, is the GP who will refer them to opticians who will test their eyes for glasses. Others may decide to do this without being referred. Many people are very aware of who the professionals are that need to be contacted the moment help is required. For many the optician is the answer; however, many others need to be seen by professionals that offer more advanced knowledge and experience such as an optometrist, and even an eye specialist – the ophthalmologist who offers many years of education and training, and experience. Many of the procedures these specialists offer are aimed at correcting a problem, or helping to prevent a potential problem somewhere in future, whereas others assist merely to help the patient with aesthetic issues, such as helping them improve their appearance, often around the eye area. Therefore one finds that certain eye specialists may concentrate their efforts and offer their services as either functional eye surgeons whereas others are better known for the aesthetic – also plastic – eye surgery they do. There are also those surgeons that specialize in both fields, i.e. the functional as well as the aesthetic.

2. This, obviously, comes only with many years’ experience as eye specialists and surgeons build their profile over time to ensure they do become the best ones in their field. It is therefore always good for patients to know who these professionals are, where they work from and how you find them. In big cities their services are more readily available, but nothing stops the individual from outlying areas to get in touch with these surgeons since the best ones are very well known, and also because you will find that they advertise their services on the internet – often on a good website with great information about their services, what their field of expertise is and how they can assist. In big cities such as, say, Paris or New York, or Manchester or London, chances are that patients will come across the really good ones. London, for example, is known for great eye hospitals such as, for instance, the famous Moorfields Eye Hospital, also the Harley Street Eye Clinic from where some of the world’s leading eye specialists and eye surgeons work and operate. Some of them are among the best anywhere, whether your needs and requirements dictate functional eye surgery such as surgery to your eye lids – either lid or both the upper and lower lid – which is known as the blepharoplasty, or ptosis repair which is correcting a droopy upper eye lid to make sure your vision is never compromised by an eye lid. Of course there are other procedures too, such as the repair of an inward turning eyelid, or a lid that turns outward. All of these, and others, are conditions that a good eye surgeon can repair to ensure you vision is great once more, or never interfered with right from the start even. A good surgeon does all of the above, and more. And, it is good to know that the really outstanding ones will be able to assist with aesthetic and plastic eye surgery too! About Us Dr Pari Shams is one of the world’s top consultant ophthalmologist & oculoplastic surgeons. Because of her knowledge, experience and expertise in her field, her services are sought- after and she is highly regarded by colleagues, other medical professionals and patients. Her comprehensive services in all aspects of eyelid, lacrimal and orbital disease ensure that she is a leader in terms of all aspects relating to specialist eyecare. Miss Shams specialises in conditions that affect eyelids, brows, cheeks, eye sockets and tear duct systems and she attends to a variety of cosmetic and functional eye conditions. Miss Shams has offices in different locations in London. She also teaches and trains physicians and surgeons in her specialist fields. For more about Dr Pari Shams, please visit http://www.parishams.com/