FEATURES OF THE NEURO-OPHTHALMOLOGY SERVICE. PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Introduction. Neuro-ophthalmology is a division of clinical medicine, which is located at the intersection of neurology and ophthalmology, examines the pathology of the visual pathway at all levels. The purpose of the work. To study the features of the neuro-ophthalmology service, to determine the main directions and prospects for future development. Mat erials and methods. The research was based on the experience of delivering neuro-ophthalmologic care in the specialized Neuro-Ophthalmology Department of the State Institution «Institute of Neurosurgery named after A.P. Romodanov of NAMS of Ukraine». We analyzed the archival past medical histories of 5850 patients who had consulted in the Neuro-Ophthalmology Department in 2014. The research methodology was based on the system approach, the main methods were: the method of system analysis to identify the major directions and tendencies of the neuro-ophthalmology service, the method of descriptive modeling to develop an optimized model for the delivery of neuro-ophthalmologic care. Results. The early diagnosis of diseases of the visual pathway should be considered as the priority tasks of the neuro-ophthalmology service. The neuro-ophthalmologists are needed in health care facilities, which include the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery. It is advisable to establish neuro-ophthalmological rooms on the basis of the Departments of Ophthalmology of multi-field medical institutions or consultation outpatient units. In Ukraine the functions of a highly specialized neuro-ophthalmology centre the Neuro-Ophthalmology Department of the State Institution «Institute of Neurosurgery named after. A.P. Romodanov of NAMS of Ukraine» performs. The doctors-neuro-ophthalmologists combine research area with practical consultative and clinical work. The pedagogical work with the surgeons and ophthalmologists is also conducted. Conclusions. The prospects for future development of neuro-ophthalmology consist in the study of early neuro-ophthalmological symptoms in various diseases, the improvement of the structure of the neuro-ophthalmology service by establishing neuro-ophthalmological offices at all levels of medical care and the extension of knowledge of doctors of various specialties in neuro-ophthalmology.