The Ophthalmology Service at the Hospital Universitario Mancha Centro, part of the SESCAM network in Alcázar de San Juan, received a national award at the 41st SECOIR Congress in La Coruña. The team won the Miscellany category for a surgical video demonstrating a complex procedure to treat lens instability and myopia, further establishing the hospital as a leader in Spanish ocular surgery.
What Was the Award-Winning Surgical Technique?
The surgical team, led by Dr. Fernando González del Valle, presented a video titled “Trasplante de óptica cosida a esclera para el tratamiento del cambio miópico y la subluxación del complejo saco-lente en un caso de ectopia lentis.” This procedure addresses a rare but serious complication where an intraocular lens becomes unstable years after an initial eye surgery. In the specific clinical case presented, the patient had undergone surgery during childhood, but subsequent growth of the ocular globe caused the lens to shift and triggered a myopic change. The team’s solution involved replacing the lens optic and anchoring it to the sclera with new sutures to restore stability and minimize the risk of future displacement.
Who Comprised the Awarded Team?
The project represents a collaborative effort from several specialists. The primary author is Dr. Fernando González del Valle, head of the Ophthalmology Service at the Gerencia de Atención Integrada de Alcázar de San Juan. The co-authors include Dr. Carmen González Polo, Valentina Hadad, María Bermúdez Mora, Esperanza López Mondéjar, and Dr. Javier Celis Sánchez. The recognition at the SECOIR Congress, which focuses on cataract, refractive, and lens surgery, marks the second consecutive year the service has received a major award at this national event.
How Does This Impact the SECOIR Leadership?
Beyond the surgical award, the hospital strengthened its influence within the Spanish Society of Ocular Implantologists and Refractive Surgeons (SECOIR). During the congress, Dr. Javier Celis Sánchez was appointed as the new secretary of the society, securing a seat on its national board of directors. This appointment follows the long-standing involvement of Dr. González del Valle, who served on the society’s executive board for eight years. According to Dr. González del Valle, the recognition of the hospital’s work is a direct result of their daily commitment to patient care and the clinical insights gained from treating complex cases.
Key Takeaways
- The Hospital Universitario Mancha Centro won the Miscellany category at the 41st SECOIR Congress for a video on complex lens re-fixation.
- Dr. Javier Celis Sánchez was elected as the new secretary of the SECOIR board of directors.
- The award-winning technique addresses late-stage instability of intraocular lenses in patients who had initial surgeries during childhood.
- This marks the second consecutive year the Ophthalmology Service at Alcázar de San Juan has been honored at the SECOIR meeting.
The team’s participation in the 41st SECOIR Congress and the 10th SECOMIR Congress—a parallel event for specialists in training—included over a dozen scientific presentations and communications. This sustained presence highlights the hospital’s role as a national reference center for ocular surgery within the Castilla-La Mancha health system.