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Om te kan sien is een van ons belangrikste sintuie. Vir dr. Cornelis Gouws is sy werk as oogspesialis (oftalmoloog) nie net ‘n werk nie. Hy beskou dit as ‘n roeping om mense te help om goeie ooggesondheid te handhaaf en hy streef daarna om ‘n werklike verskil in sy pasiënte se lewens te maak.
Voordat hy sy kamers by Ocumed in Vanderbijlpark sowel as sy privaatpraktyk in Parys oopgemaak het, het hy wyd gereis en wêreldklaskennis opgedoen deur sy betrokkenheid by hospitale in Suid-Afrika en in die buiteland. Hy was ook betrokke by die opleiding van opkomende oogspesialiste. Vandag kan inwoners van die Vaaldriehoek en omliggende gebiede voordeel trek uit dié toegewyde oogspesialis se kundigheid en kennis.

Dr. Gouws word as ‘n besonder veelsydige oogspesialis beskou: Hy spesialiseer nie net in katarakchirurgie nie maar ook in ooglaserbehandeling. Hy het ook ‘n spesiale belangstelling in retinale chirurgie. Daarbenewens is hy ‘n kenner op die gebied van gloukoom en diabetiese oogsiektes, ongeag die pasiënt se ouderdom.

Dié pa van vier is ’n aktiewe buitelugmens wat dit geniet om in sy vrye tyd te hengel, tuin te maak en houtwerk te doen – alles aktiwiteite waarvoor jy jou oë regtig nodig het. Omdat hy sy eie en sy gesin se sig so hoog ag, is hy daartoe verbind om die ooggesondheid van ander ook te bevorder – hetsy ‘n pasiënt ‘n kind of senior burger is.

In onlangse jare het miopie, algemeen bekend as bysiendheid, wêreldwyd begin toeneem – ‘n bron van groot kommer vir dr. Gouws.
“Bysiendheid is ‘n refraktiewe fout van die oog wat veroorsaak dat voorwerpe op ‘n afstand vaag lyk, terwyl naby-voorwerpe duidelik is. Hierdie toestand affekteer individue van alle ouderdomme maar dit begin tipies reeds tydens die kinderjare en vorder dan verder. Die presiese oorsaak van bysiendheid word nog nie ten volle verstaan ​​nie, maar verskeie faktore dra by tot die ontwikkeling daarvan. Genetika speel ‘n beduidende rol, maar omgewingsfaktore het ook ‘n deurslaggewende invloed. Oormatige “nabywerk”-aktiwiteite soos lees, skryf en langdurige gebruik van elektroniese toestelle is al verbind met die ontwikkeling en progressie van bysiendheid. Boonop kan te min tyd in die buitelug en ‘n gebrek aan blootstelling aan natuurlike lig die risiko verhoog,” sê dr. Gouws.

Mense met miopie sukkel dikwels om padtekens, swartborde in klaskamers of voorwerpe in die verte te sien. Hulle kan egter nabygeleë voorwerpe duidelik sien. Ander simptome sluit oogspanning en hoofpyn in. Die persoon trek gewoonlik sy of haar oë op skrefies wanneer daar op voorwerpe in die verte gefokus word.

Kinders met dié toestand kan dit moeilik vind om deel te neem aan sport of buitemuurse aktiwiteite wat goeie afstandvisie vereis. Sonder behoorlike regstellende maatreëls kan bysiendheid akademiese prestasie en algemene produktiwiteit belemmer.
“Dit is noodsaaklik om die tekens te herken en kundige raad oor oogsorg in te win om verdere verswakking van visie te voorkom. Gelukkig kan bysiendheid doeltreffend deur verskeie metodes bestuur word,” sê dr Gouws.

Prosedures wat gereeld deur Dr Gouws uitgevoer word:

Katarak Chirurgie: Monofokale lense, toriese lense, multivokale lense en monovisie.

Refraktêre Chirurgie: Die kandidate wat die beste uitkomste lewer, is pasiënte wat binne die 0 tot minus 3 kategorie val. Uitstekende resultate is ook al behaal in pasiënte met uitermate bysiendheid van tot minus 9.

Retinale Chirurgie: Spesifieke retinale operasies wat op ʼn gereelde grondslag gedoen word, sluit byvoorbeeld in: Herstel van Makula-gate, verwydering van epiretinale membraan, herstel van retinale loslatings en verwydering van vitreous “floaters”. Dr. Gouws verwyder ook vitreous bloed met stabilisering en hy behandel ook gekompliseerde diabetiese retina-probleme.

Gloukoom: Behandel gloukoompasiënte met moderne medikasie en konserwatiewe, dog doeltreffende chirurgie. Pasiënte met gekompliseerde gloukoom word ook hier behandel.

* Besoek die Facebook-blad https://www.facebook.com/cornelis.gouws.7 vir interessante artikels oor oogsorg deur dr. Gouws, of stuur ‘n e-pos na admin@drcgouws.co.za om meer uit te vind oor oogprobleme en moontlike behandelings. Die praktyke kan by 072 948 2881 (Parys) of (016) 982 4020 (Vanderbijlpark) bereik word.

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Eye specialist concerned about myopia increase in general public

As humans our visual acuity is one of our most vital senses: 80% of what we observe comes from our precious sense of sight. For Dr Cornelis Gouws his work as an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) is not just a job. He views it as a divine calling to help people maintain good eye health and strives to make a real difference in his patients’ lives.

Before opening his rooms at Ocumed in Vanderbijlpark as well as his private practice in Parys, he travelled widely and gained world class knowledge through his involvement with hospitals in South Africa and abroad. He was also involved in training upcoming eye specialists. Today, residents of the Vaal Triangle and surrounding areas benefit from this dedicated eye specialist’s expert knowledge.

Dr Gouws is considered a particularly versatile ophthalmologist: Not only does he specialize in cataract surgery, but also in eye-laser treatment, and he has a special interest in retinal surgery. In addition, he is an expert in the field of glaucoma and diabetic eye diseases, regardless of whether the patient is a baby or a senior citizen.

This father of four is an active outdoor person who enjoys fishing, gardening and woodworking in his spare time – all activities for which you really need your eyes. Because he values his own and his family’s sight so highly, he is committed to promote eye health among young and old in the Vaal.

In recent years, the prevalence of myopia, commonly known as near-sightedness, has been on the rise worldwide – a source of great concern for Dr Gouws.

“Myopia is a refractive error of the eye that causes distant objects to appear blurry, while close-up objects remain clear. This condition affects individuals of all ages, but it typically emerges during childhood and progresses until early adulthood. The exact cause of myopia is not fully understood, but various factors contribute to its development. Genetics play a significant role, however, environmental factors also play a crucial part. Excessive near-work activities, such as reading, writing, and prolonged use of electronic devices, have been linked to the development and progression of myopia. Additionally, spending too little time outdoors and lack of exposure to natural light can increase the risk,” says Dr Gouws.

People with myopia often have difficulty seeing road signs, blackboards in classrooms, or objects in the distance. However, they can see nearby objects clearly. Other symptoms may include eye strain, headaches, squinting, and eye strain while focusing on distant objects. Individuals may find it difficult to participate in sports or outdoor activities that require good distance vision. Without proper corrective measures, myopia can hinder academic performance and overall productivity.

“It’s essential to recognize the signs and seek proper eye care to prevent further deterioration of vision. Fortunately, myopia can be effectively managed through various methods,” says Dr Gouws.

Procedures regularly performed by Dr Gouws:

Cataract Surgery: Mono-focal lenses, Toric lenses, multi-focal lenses and mono-vision.

Refractive surgery: Candidates who experience the best outcomes are myopia patients who fall within the 0 to minus 3 category. Excellent results have also been achieved in patients with extreme myopia of up to minus 9.

Retinal surgery: Specific retinal operations that are performed on a regular basis include, for example: Repair of macular holes, removal of epiretinal membrane, repair of retinal detachments and removal of vitreous floaters. Dr Gouws also removes vitreous blood with stabilization and complicated diabetic retinal problems can also be treated.

Glaucoma: Glaucoma patients are treated with modern medications and/or conservative, yet effective surgery. Patients with complicated glaucoma are also treated here.

* Visit the Facebook page Visit the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/cornelis.gouws.7 for interesting articles on eye care by Dr Gouws, or send an email to admin@drcgouws.co.za to find out more about eye problems and possible treatments. The practices can be reached at 072 948 2881 (Parys) or (016) 982 4020 (Vanderbijlpark).