MANILA, Philippines – It used to be that patients from the Philippines choose to travel abroad in search of first-rate eye care services and world-class ophthalmologic treatments. The scenario changed gradually when Asian Eye Institute (AEI) opened the doors of its first ambulatory eye care center in Rockwell in 2001, giving Filipinos access to quality services, facilities, and specialists at par with the rest of the world.
Envisioned to be a renowned center of excellence in the delivery of high-quality and innovative eye care services in Asia, as well as a vital national and international resource in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases and visual impairment, AEI has been at the forefront of medical research, believing that medical progress relies on the discovery of new information, technologies, and practices. The ultimate goal is to champion eye care and improve the quality of life of patients.
AEI is one of the leading sites in Asia for testing and comparing the latest ophthalmic drugs, devices, and treatments. The research work of AEI doctors has been published in prestigious international and local journals, and presented in international conventions. Those on cataracts, pterygium, glaucoma, Lasik, and the Stevens-Johnson syndrome have served as reference for local and international doctors in treating their own patients. AEI doctors have also introduced therapies for previously untreatable age-related conditions such as macular degeneration, one of the leading causes of blindness among elderly people.
Anna Gerochi, AEI vice president, accounts, “Before, common thinking was that losing one’s vision is an inevitable part of aging. We still hear that today from some of our new patients. But when we pioneered anti-VEGF treatments for age-related macular degeneration or AMD, patients suffering from this condition had newfound hope.”
She explains that AEI is supported by a number of partners, such as Novartis Healthcare Philippines, in finding ways to manage and treat AMD.