Patients at Risk as Eye Laser Surgery Sector Booms (Ireland)

24-7PressRelease - DUBLIN, IRELAND, January 05, 2008 -- The past six months have seen major growth in the number of clinics offering laser eye procedures throughout the State. There are now more than 20 clinics specialising in laser eye surgery in Ireland, compared with four just five years ago.

Concerns have now been raised about the use of doctors imported from the UK and elsewhere to carry out the surgery, often being flown in and out of the State in a 24-hour period.

"As such they can't offer continuity of care and this is not a healthy set-up," said Dr Arthur Cummings, consultant ophthalmologist at the Wellington Eye Clinic in Dublin.Describing the sector as a "minefield", Prof Michael O'Keeffe, consultant ophthalmologist at the Mater Private Hospital, said the huge growth in the area in recent months was a result of SSIA windfalls.

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