A Polish ophthalmologist has once again been recognized for saving the eyesight of war victims in Ukraine. Prof. Robert Rejdak, head of the General Ophthalmology Clinic at University Hospital No. 1 in Lublin, received special thanks from the Ukrainian Minister for Veterans for performing eye-saving surgeries on people wounded during the war. He will soon receive an award for helping war victims from the Royal British and Irish Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.
Hundreds of sight-saving operations for war victims in Ukraine have been performed at the University General Ophthalmology Clinic in Lublin, headed by Prof. Robert Rejdak.
“We are grateful for your invaluable help in preserving the eyesight of wounded Ukrainian citizens, for your high professionalism and humanitarianism. Your support is an example of true solidarity and a struggle fought with the power of good,” emphasized Natalia Kalmykova, Ukraine’s Minister for Veterans, in her letter of thanks.
Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine in February 2022, University Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Lublin has been admitting injured refugees, including patients with eye injuries. In 2022 alone, several dozen adults from Ukraine and about 20 children were hospitalized at the clinic, which specializes in treating severe eye injuries with reconstruction of the anterior segment of the eye.
Global standards of treatment
“The most drastic cases we have dealt with are intraocular foreign bodies, eye injuries, and large, massive burns,” explained Prof. Robert Rejdak. „I never thought I would see such war injuries in young children. Polish surgical ophthalmology has reached the same level as in Western European countries. I am satisfied that we are able and can help young patients from Ukraine.
Ukrainian doctors also trained in Lublin under the supervision of Prof. Robert Rejdak. Clinics in Kiev and Kharkiv perform many sight-saving operations, using teleconsultations with the ophthalmology center in Lublin to plan them.
An EU grant (under the European Territorial Cooperation Program – Interreg) will soon be launched to create a digital medical consultation platform and train doctors from Ukraine.
“Ophthalmologists will be trained in transplantology, mainly corneal transplants and eye tissue banking. It seems that the development of this area in Ukrainian ophthalmology requires particular support,” emphasizes Prof. Robert Rejdak, who is leading the grant project.
Award from British ophthalmologists
The medical activities undertaken at the Lublin ophthalmology clinic to help war victims have also been noticed by the Royal British-Irish Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (UKISCRS).
Prof. Robert Rejdak has been invited to give the opening lecture at this year’s 49th UKISCRS conference, which will take place on November 12-14 in London.
“I will discuss cases of ophthalmic patients treated for eye injuries sustained as a result of warfare, also pointing out the importance of international cooperation and the role of telemedicine techniques in wartime,” says the specialist.
The professor will receive the REF Award from the Royal British and Irish Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (UKISCRS) for his contribution to the development of ophthalmology and complex surgeries performed on wounded war victims.
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