Information concerning referrals

As a rule we prefer to examine and treat patients who are referred by a qualified ophthalmologist. Appointments for initial presentation of non-urgent cases are ususally given by  telephone (German health care patients: +49 421 5665-200, private patients: +49 421 5665-250). Depending on the urgency appointments are usually available within 1-6 weeks.

In emergencies or in cases where particular details of the patient need to be discussed beforehand, the referrring ophthalmologist is put through to one of our specialists. Alternatively referring ophthalmologists can send us a fax or email with the particulars. Our email addresses and fax numbers are available on this website and any information contained in a communications is treated confidentially by us and our staff.

2. ambulatory operations

Due to logistical differences we have different consultation clinics for anterior and posterior segment patients. Cataract patients usually spend about 2 hours in our institution in which all necessary preliminary investigations, informed consent and consultation with an anesthesiologist are done. If more complex situations, particularly vitreoretinal conditions require additional diagnostic measures, longer in-house times may result.
On the day of surgery the patient should not drink, eat or smoke 6 hours prior to surgery. He should also bring the usual general medical findings (blood workup, ECG etc.) of which he was informed at the time of initial consultation. If an operation in general anesthesia is planned as an out-patient procedure the patient should have an accompanying person to take him home after surgery.

Initial visits for a vitreoretinal problem are significantly more time consuming than those for a cataract operation. We prefer to perform all necessary investigations in one day and also do the preoperative discussion and informed consent with both surgeon and anaesthesiologist at the same time. An inhouse stay of 4 hours is not unusual under the circumstances. Patients and accompanying persons should be made aware of that. There is a bistro in the building where accompanying persons can while away the time over a capuccino and snack. Diabetics might also want to make use of this or bring along a sandwich to avoid hypoglycemia.
Vitreoretinal operations are usually performed under intravenous general anesthesia. Patients living close by can spend the postoperative night at home provided they are not alone there. Patients without accompanying persons or those from farther away will have to spend the night under our care in the adjoining hotel or in our inpatient facility.

In order to allow for efficient organization we require that emergency cases are announced up-front by telephone. If same-day surger is planned (the rule) the patient must observe the 6 hour no drink, no food, no smoke rule. The patient should preferably also bring an accompanying person, obligatory for outpatient surgery! Patients should also be made aware that the in-house stay might be prolonged by virtue of the fact that they might have to be included in an already full schedule.

Patients coming from afar usually spend the night after the operation under our care in the adjoining hotel or our inpatient facility. The cost for the hotel currently is €89 single, €101 double (check for actual rates! +49 421 22020 or www.hotel-munte.de). Reimbursement is not guaranteed and it is up to the patient to discuss this issue with the insurance. Patients from abroad usually stay one night as inpatients. As soon as we have a good idea what sort of operation is planned we provide a quote for the surgery, the anesthesia, pre- and postoperative examinations and the inpatient stay.

In all cases we prefer to perform a postoperative examination on the first postoperative morning. Whether later visits are necessary depends on the condition and the type of surgery performed and is more likely and more frequent the more complex the situation we are dealing with. It is important to realize that complicated retinal conditions have a reasonably high rate of complications and must therefore be observed closely so as not to miss something important.
By and large, however, the postoperative care is taken over by the referring ophthalmologist after the first postoperative control examination. We are available 24/7 if problems should arise.