The geographical isolation of most refugee accommodation facilities, the absence of specialized ophthalmology subspecialties (e.g. Pediatric ophthalmologists) from regional hospitals and, above all, the established presence of refractive errors – keratoconus in refugee populations originating from the Middle East, creates difficulties in the timely diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions, not only for refugees but also for the local population.
These require special equipment and training, such as eye diseases, especially keratoconus where the progression of the disease can be avoided if diagnosed at a preclinical level and treated promptly.
In 2018, the European Society of Refractive Surgery (ESCRS) and the Hellenic Society of Intraocular and Refractive Surgery donated to the Ophthalmology Unit, for this purpose, the full modern equipment of a mobile ophthalmology unit as well as the relevant vehicle, which to date has examined the entire refugee population hosted in Crete and since December 2021, has been located in the Elefsina refugee accommodation facility, where with the help of volunteer doctors from the 401st General Hospital, the refugees residing there, mainly children and young patients, are examined.
Subsequently, the unit will visit other hosting structures in the country, with the assistance of volunteer doctors, opticians and nurses from the European Society of Refractive Surgery and the Hellenic Society of Intraocular and Refractive Surgery , in order for the refugees to receive the best possible medical care.
