Attendance at the XV ISA Meeting, Cancun, Mexico, from September 8 to 11, 2022. Posters presented.

Publication «Treatment with refractive surgery in a patient with anisometropia and diplopia. Case». Annals d’Ophthalmology digital magazine, vol. 29, no. 3, 2021.

Communication «Treatment of diplopia in the adult patient». 52 Congress of the Catalan Society of Ophthalmology virtual”, from 25^th to 27^th November 2021.

Publication «Correlation and concordance between the Mohindra retinoscopy technique and retinoscopy with cycloplegics in childhood». Archivos de la Sociedad Española de Oftalmología, 2021.

Communication «Amblyopia and strabismus in childhood» at the II Professional Vision and Education Conference, held from October 4th to November 14th, 2021.

Virtual communication «Amblyopia: giving answers to clinical cases» organized by the Amblyopia Commission of CLADE, held on October 1st, 2021.

Attendance at the WSPOS Connect 2 the World congress, held from September 25th to 26th September 2021.

Communication «Visual disability in pandemic. Case: Accommodative spasm »in the Visual Impairment in Pandemic course, held on September 3er, 2021.

Publication of the clinical case «Myasthenia Gravis in Childhood. Report of clinical cases». Argentine Journal of Children’s Ophthalmology (RAOI), no. 3, September 2021.

Communication «Diplopia in the adult» in the XX Congress of the Mexican Center of Strabismus, held from August 5ht to 7th, 2021.

Presentation of the free communication “Exploration and treatment of nystagmus in childhood. Regarding 2 cases” at the XVIII Congress of the Spanish Society of Paediatric Strabology and Ophthalmology (SEEOP) Virtual, held on June 11 and 12, 2021.

Presentation of the poster “The use of videooculography in a strabismus center” at the ESA-ISA Congress, Virtual Conference, held from April 23 to 25, 2021.

Presentation of the poster “Treatment of diplopia in the adult patient” at the ESA-ISA Congress, Virtual Conference, held from April 23 to 25, 2021.

Publication of the “Clinical Case C.C. 41, Paresis of the IV pair of the right eye, About a case“, Dr. D. Fernández-Agrafojo, Phd, and Dr. Y. Guerrero. Journal of Strabismus and Pediatric Ophthalmology (REOP), vol. VIII, no. 1, March 2021.

Publication of “Clinical Case 35 (CC. 35), Long-term diplopia in elderly patient“, Dr. D. Fernández-Agrafojo, Phd, and Mr. H. Morales. Journal of Strabismus and Pediatric Ophthalmology (REOP), vol. VII, no. 2, June 2020.

Communication “Amblyopia. What has changed in amblyopia” at the XXII Latin American Congress of Strabismus, CLADE, held in Cartagena de Indias from February 19-22, 2020.

Communication “Refractive surgery in anisometric patient with diplopia. Case report” at the XXII Latin American Congress of Strabismus, CLADE, held in Cartagena de Indias from February 19-22, 2020.

Communication “Diplopia of late onset in adult patient. Case series” at the XXII Latin American Congress of Strabismus, CLADE, held in Cartagena de Indias from February 19-22, 2020.

Communication “The use of videoculography in the strabismus office. What is it for?” At the XXII Latin American Congress of Strabismus, CLADE, held in Cartagena de Indias on February 19-22, 2020.

Assistance to the “VI Course on Advances in Thyroid Ophthalmopathy”, held at the medical school of the Hospital de Sant Pau in Barcelona on February 7, 2020.

Published case “Diplopia Improvement after Refractive Surgery” by Dr. Fernández-Agrafojo and Dr. Trueba Lawand in the International Strabismological Association (ISA), December 15, 2019.

Communication in the 50th Congress of the Catalan Society of Ophthalmology titled “Treatment with refractive surgery in an anisometric patient with diplopia” held in Barcelona from 28 to 30 November 2019.

Communication in the 50th Congress of the Catalan Society of Ophthalmology titled “Amblyopia in high graduations”, held in Barcelona from 28 to 30 November 2019.

Communication in the Mexican Congress of Strabismus titled “Comparative study of Gazelab videoculography with the synoptophore and with the Hess-Lancaster test” held in Mexico from 25th to 27^th July, 2019.

Communication in the Mexican Congress of Strabismus titled “Strabismus treatment with refractive surgery” held in Mexico from 25th to 27^th July, 2019.

Communication in the Mexican Congress of Strabismus titled “Amblyopia with high refractive error” held in Mexico from 25th to 27^th July, 2019.

Communication in the Mexican Congress of Strabismus titled “Diplopia of late appearance in adult patient” held in Mexico from 25th to 27^th July, 2019.

Communication in the 40th edition of the European Strabismological Association (ESA) titled “Comparative study of ocular motility between Gazelab video-oculography and the Hess-Lancaster test” held in Helsinki from 5th to 8^th June, 2019.

Communication in the 40th edition of the European Strabismological Association (ESA) titled “Comparative study of ocular motility between Gazelab video-oculography and the Hess-Lancaster test” held in Helsinki from 5th to 8th June, 2019.

Publication of the article “Efficacy of strabismus surgery in convergent deviation and diplopia. A case report”. Annals d’Ophthalmology digital magazine. ISSN 2013-8415, vol. 27, no. 1, January-March 2019.

Communication in the 8th edition of ADHD days “Disorders of Neurodevelopment and ADHD” titled “Detection of vision in the stage of Early Childhood Education”, held at the Teknon Medical Center in Barcelona on December 1st, 2018.

Attendance at the 49th Congress of the Catalan Society of Ophthalmology, held at the AXA Auditorium in Barcelona from 22nd to 24th November 2018.

Communication in the 36th World Ophthalmology Congress titled “Amblyopia with high refractive error”, held in Barcelona from 16th to 19th June 2018.

Communication in the XXVI SEEOP Congress titled “Amblyopia with high refractive error”, held in Tarragona from 10th to 12th May 2018.

Communication in the XXVI SEEOP Congress titled “Macular changes in children with refractive amblyopia”, held in Tarragona from 10 to 12 May 2018.

Direction and communication in the first edition of the “Ophthalmology and Optometry: collaborating in the detection and prevention” course, held at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona on May 5, 2018.

Communication in the 48th Congress of the Catalan Society of Ophthalmology titled “Surgical result of the frontal suspension with polytetrafluoroethylene to treat total congenital ptosis”, held in Barcelona from 23 to 25 November 2017.

Oral communication in the XXI Ibero-American Congress of Strabismus CLADE titled “LASIK surgery or IOL in patients with strabismus”, held in Buenos Aires from 25 to 28 October 2017.

Oral communication in the XXI Ibero-American Congress of Strabismus CLADE titled “Surgical result of the frontal suspension with polytetrafluoroethylene to treat total congenital ptosis”, held in Buenos Aires from 25 to 28 October 2017.

Oral communication in the XXI Ibero-American Congress of Strabismus CLADE titled “Comparative study between synoptophore and Gazelab”, held in Buenos Aires from 25 to 28 October 2017.

Participation in a Round table in the XXI Ibero-American Congress of Strabismus CLADE titled “Amblyopia and high graduations”, held in Buenos Aires from 25 to 28 October 2017.

Coauthor with MD Yuri Eduardo of the study “Human immunodeficiency virus-associated giant conjunctival Kaposi’s sarcoma: complete remission with antiretroviral therapy and systemic chemotherapy”, published in the Journal of the Spanish Society of Ophthalmology “Archivos de la Sociedad Española de Oftalmología” in the digital version of June of 2017, pending publication in future issues.

Talk on “LASIK or IOL Refractive Surgery in Patients with Strabismus”, at the European Society of Ophthalmology Congress (SOE), held in Barcelona from 10-13 June, 2017.

Publication of the article “Comparative Study between Synoptophore and Cover Test with Prisms at Far Vision” for the digital journal JOJ Ophthalmology, 2016.

Publication of the case study “Diplopia and Torticollis in adult Strabismus” in the digital journal JOJ Ophthalmology, 2016.

Publication in the first edition of Acta Estrabológica of the “Comparative Study between Synoptophore and Gazelab”, 2016.

Participation in the 47th Congress of the Catalan Society of Ophthalmology, held in Barcelona from 1-3 December, 2016, with a presentation titled “Comparative Study between Synoptophore and Gazelab”.

Participation in the 2016 ESA Congress, the 38th Meeting of the European Strabismological Association, with a presentation of the poster “Comparative Study between Synoptophore and the Video-oculograph Gazelab”, held in Budapest from 31 September to 3 October, 2016.

Participation in the 13th International Orthoptic Congress, held in Rotterdam from 27-30 June, 2016, with a presentation of the poster “Comparative Study between Synoptophore and Gazelab”.

Direction, coordination and communications for the 2nd edition of the online continuing education course “Detection of Learning Difficulties in Childhood”, for the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), from 18 February to 9 June, 2016.

Participation in the 24th Congress of the Spanish Society of Strabology with a presentation titled “Comparative Study of Measurement of the Angle of Strabismus by means of Synoptophore and the Video-oculograph Gazelab”, held in Cordoba on 14 April, 2016.

Member of the examining board for the doctoral thesis titled “Design, Study and Validation of a Power Gradient Contact Lens for Myopia”, defended by Mr. Jaume Pauné Fabré at the Faculty of Optics and Optometry of Terrassa (UPC) on 18 November, 2015.

Attendance at the 46th Congress of the Catalan Society of Ophthalmology, held in Barcelona from 26 to 28 November, 2015.

Direction and communications at the 6th Course on Learning Difficulties in Childhood, held at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona on 12 November, 2015.

Participation in the 3rd World Congress of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, with a presentation of the poster “The Effect of Oblique Muscle Dysfunction on Alphabetic Syndrome”, held in Barcelona on 4-6 September 2015.

Dr. Fernández Agrafojo took part in the Congress of the Spanish Society of Strabology, held in Alicante on 17 and 18 April, 2015.

Participation in the 9th Paediatric Specialities Course with a presentation titled, “Paediatric Vision and Strabismus”, held at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona on 20 March, 2015.

Participation in the 2nd Practical Paediatrics Course with the presentation, “Paediatric Vision and Strabismus”, held in Reus on 30 and 31 January, 2015.

Collaboration and presentation in the digital edition of REOP (Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmology) in December 2014 (REOP no. 4 Vol. I).

Participation as an author in the International Strabismological Association meeting, held in Kyoto from 1-4 December, 2014, with the poster “Comparative Study between Synoptophore and Cover Test with Prisms in Far Vision”.

Oral communication at the 45th Congress of the Catalan Society of Ophthalmology, held in Barcelona from 27-29 November, 2014, with a presentation titled “Faco/LASIK in Strabismus Patients”.

Oral communication at the 12th Congress of the Extremadura Society of Ophthalmology with a presentation on “Paediatric Vision and Strabismus”, held in Badajoz on 7 and 8 November, 2014.

Participation in the 90th Congress of the Spanish Society of Ophthalmology, held in Bilbao from 1-4 October, 2014, with a presentation on the topic “The Communication of Clinical Cases and Surgical Manoeuvres: Iritis and acute herpetic trabeculitis in young patients without previous ocular diseases”.

Direction, coordination and communications for the Online Postgraduate Course, “Detection of Learning Difficulties in Childhood”, for the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), 2014.

Collaboration and presentation in the digital edition of REOP (Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmology) in September 2014 (REOP no. 3 Vol. I).

Direction and communications for the Training Course titled “Strabismus Clinic for Optometrists Treatment and Updates”, taught at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona on 27 September, 2014.

Participation in the 22nd Congress of the Spanish Society of Strabology with a presentation on the “Comparative Study between Synoptophore and Cover Test with Prism in Far Vision”, held in Cuenca from 24-26 April, 2014.

Participation in the 32nd Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery with a presentation of the study “Strabismus Protocol in Pre-refractive Surgery”, held in London from 13-17 September, 2014.

Collaboration and presentation in the digital edition of LEOP (Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmology) in October 2013 (REOP no. 19. Vol. IV).

Participation as an author in the Congress of the European Society of Ophthalmology, held in Copenhagen from 8-12 June, 2013, with the e-Poster titled “Refractive surgery and strabismus”.

Participation in the 33rd Course of the Spanish Society of Strabology, held in Palma de Mallorca from 15-16 March, 2013, with a presentation on “A Different Method for Conducting a Retinoscopy in Pre-verbal Children”.

Participation in the 33rd Course of the Spanish Society of Strabology with a presentation on “Traumatic Superior Oblique Palsy”, held in Palma de Mallorca from 15-16 March, 2013.

Collaboration and presentation in the digital edition of LEOP (Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmology) in February 2013 (LEOP no. 13. Vol. IV).

Attendance at clinical and surgical sessions of childhood and adult strabismus in the department of Dr. Audren François, held at the “Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild” Foundation, in Paris, in January 2013.

Attendance at the Congress of the Catalan Society of Ophthalmology, held in Barcelona from 29 to 30 November, 2012.

Direction and communications for the 5th course on Learning Difficulties in Childhood, held at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona on 29 November, 2012.

Collaboration and presentation in the digital edition of LEOP (Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmology) in October 2012 (LEOP no. 10. Vol. III).

Participation as an author at the 2nd World Congress of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus with the e-Poster “Refractive Surgery and Strabismus: Our Experience”, held in Milan (Italy) in September 2012.

Participation as an author at the 30th European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons with the free paper “Refractive Surgery and Strabismus: Our Experience”, held in Milan (Italy) in September 2012.

Professional interview published in the book on medical excellence in Spain, La excelencia de la medicina en España, by Cesar Liesa-Ana Arcalís. Last Word Publishers, September 2012.

Collaboration and presentation in the digital edition of LEOP (Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmology) in July 2012 (LEOP Vol. III no. 7).

Participation as an author in the Congress of the European Paediatric Ophthalmology Society (EPOS), held in Uppsala (Sweden) in June 2012, with the presentation of the poster “Refractive Surgery and Strabismus”.

Attendance at the XXI Congress of the Spanish Society of Strabismus, held in Madrid from 19 to 20 April, 2012.

Publication of the article “Refractive surgery and strabismus in adult patients” in Supplement Strabismus of the Canadian Orthoptic Society, in April 2012.

Attendance at the Congress of Refractive Surgery and Cataracts: UPDTA 2012, held in Barcelona on 17 February, 2012.

Collaboration and presentation in the digital edition of LEOP (Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmology) in December 2011 (case no. 1 LEOP Vol. II no. 7), for clinical and surgical discussion.

Attendance at the Oculoplastic and Corneal Leaks: Everything you always wanted to know, held in Barcelona on 4 November, 2011

Collaboration and presentation in the digital edition of LEOP (Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmology) in April 2011 (case no. 3 LEOP Vol. I no. 8), for clinical and surgical discussion.

Co-direction of the Expert Course in Optometry, for optometrists on the postgraduate course ‘Veinte/20’, held at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona on 2-3 April, 2011.

Direction of the “Longitudinal Clinical Trial on the Effectiveness of the Hydrophilic Lens AMIOPIK in Treating Myopia”, at the Teknon Medical Centre from 14 March, 2011.

Attendance as a scientific committee in the IV Interdisciplinary Pediatric Specialties Course, held at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona on 4 February 2011.

Collaboration and presentation in the digital edition of LEOP (Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmology) in August 2010 (LEOP Vol. I no. 79), for clinical and surgical discussion.

Collaboration and presentation in the digital edition of LEOP (Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmology) in April 2010 (case no. 1 in LEOP. no. 69, Vol. I), for clinical and surgical discussion.

Co-direction of the Expert Course in Optometry, for optometrists on the post-graduate course ‘Veinte/20’, held at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona on 16-17 January, 8-9 May and 27-28 November, 2010.

Attendance at the XX Congress of the Spanish Society of Strabismus, held in Barcelona from 29 April to 1st May, 2010.

Comunication at the 33rd European Strabismological Association Meeting, held in Belgrade from 4-7 October, 2009, with the presentation “Retinofilms”.

Participation as an author in the 1st International Congress of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, held in Barcelona on 12-13 September, 2009, with the video presentation “Retinofilms”.

Attendance as a scientific committee in the III Interdisciplinary Pediatric Specialties Course, held at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona on 20 February 2009.

Publication on the back cover of the newspaper El Periódico of the article titled “Excessive Computer Use Causes Myopia”, on 17 February, 2009.

Direction and communications in the 4th course on Learning Difficulties in Childhood, held at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona on 11 February, 2009.

Direction and communications in the 4th course on Learning Difficulties in Childhood, held at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona on 6 February, 2009.

Co-direction of the Expert Course in Optometry, for optometrists on the post-graduate course ‘Veinte/20’, held at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona on 17-18 January, and 9-10 May, 2009.

Direction and communications in the 3rd course on Learning Difficulties in Childhood, held at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona on 7 October 2008.

Participation as an author in the 17th Latin American Strabismus Congress, with a presentation of the posters titled “Retinofilms” and “Hess Lancaster”, held in Buenos Aires (Argentina) from 1-4 October, 2008.

Co-direction of the Expert Course in Optometry, for optometrists on the post-graduate course ‘Veinte/20’, held at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona on 31 May and 1 June, 2008.

Direction and communications in the 2nd Course on Solutions to Learning Difficulties in Childhood, held at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona on 13 March, 2008.

Direction and communications in the course on Vision and Development in Childhood, held at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona on 15 February, 2008.

Co-direction of the Expert Course in Optometry, for optometrists on the post-graduate course ‘Veinte/20’, held at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona on 24-25 November, 2007.

Attendance at the 31st Meeting of the European Strabismological Association, held in Mykonos (Greece) from 20 to 23 May, 2007.

Attendance at the XX Basic Course of the Spanish Society of Strabismus, held in Murcia from 20 to 21 April, 2007.

Direction and communications in the 1st Course on Solutions to Learning Difficulties in Childhood, held at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona on 8 March, 2007.

Communication in the 1st International Congress of Orthokeratology, titled “Complications and risks under the treatment of Orthokeratology”, held in Barcelona on 28-29 October, 2006.

Direction and communications at the 19th International Congress of Optometry, Contactology and Ophthalmic Optics. “Visual Assessment of 2nd Grade Students in Schools in the Maresme Municipality”, held at the IFEMA Congress and Events centre in Madrid in March 2006.

Direction and communication at the 19th International Congress of Optometry, Contactology and Ophthalmic Optics. “Visual Therapy for a Post-trauma Superior Oblique Palsy”, held at the IFEMA Congress and Events centre in Madrid in March 2006.

Presentation at the 30th European Strabismological Association Meeting, held in Killarney, Ireland from 8 to 11 June, 2005, on the topic “Orthoptic Treatment for Post-trauma Superior Oblique Palsy”.

Participation at the 29th European Strabismological Association Meeting with a presentation titled “Childhood Myasthenia Gravis: A Case Study”, held in Izmir, Turkey from 1-4 June, 2004.

Publication of the article “Effectiveness in the Maintenance of Convergence Insufficiency”. Acta estrabológica, 2004. Volume XXXIII.

Publication of the article “Diplopia after Cataract Surgery in Myopic Patients”. Acta estrabológica, 2003. Volume XXXII.

Direction and communications for the 3rd Paediatric Ophthalmology Course carried out at the Clinic Quirón in Barcelona in 2001.

Attendance at the International Symposium from Glaucoma Surgery, held in Barcelona on 29-30 June, 2001.

Direction and communications for the 2nd Paediatric Ophthalmology Course carried out at the Clínica Quirón in Barcelona in 2000.

Direction and communications for the 1st Paediatric Ophthalmology Course carried out at the Clínica Quirón in Barcelona in 1999.

Attendance at the XIV Microsurgery Course. X Practical course of Phacoemulsification in the animal in vivo, organized by the Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery of Cáceres and the Ophthalmology Chair of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Extremadura, held in Cáceres on 18-19 June, 1999.

Presentation at the 7th Continuing Medical Training Course titled “Early diagnosis of poor vision in children”, held at the Clínica Quirón in October 1998.

Communication in the 6th Continuing Medical Training Course titled “Cataracts: Surgical Solutions” held at the Clínica Quirón in October 1997.

Direction and communications for the 5th continuing medical training course titled “Vision Development in Children”, held at the Clínica Quirón in January 1997.

Presentation at the continuing education course in paediatrics titled “Vision and the Child”, held at Barcelona Children’s Hospital in December 1996.

“Results for Alphabetic Syndromes in Oblique Surgery”. Acta estrabológica. Volume XXV, 1996.

“Clinical and Surgical Results for Constant Exotropia”. Acta estrabológica, January-December 1994.

“Clinical and Surgical Results for Constant Exotropia”. Acta estrabológica, 1993.

Presentation at the 13th Basic Course in Strabismological Training with the title “Variable angle strabismus surgery”, held in Madrid in May 1992.

Presentation at the doctorate course on strabismus titled “Exotropia”, held at the Hospital San Pablo in Barcelona in April 1992.

Presentation at the 13th Basic Course on Strabismological Training with the title “Clinical practice and treatment of divergent strabismus”, held in the Dexeus Institute in Barcelona in February 1992.

Presentation at the 2nd International Course on Recent Advances in Ophthalmology with the title, “The importance of Diagnosis of Pseudo-divergence Excess”, held in Barcelona in November 1991.

Presentation at the 67th Congress of the Spanish Society of Ophthalmology with the video titled “Reintervention of the Faden Operation”, held in Santander in September 1991.

Presentation at the Ophthalmology Video Festival with the video titled “Strabismus Surgery”, organised by the Catalan Society of Ophthalmology in Lleida, in April 1991.

Presentation at the 1st Basic Course in Strabismological Training with the title “Exotropia: Therapeutic Aspects”, held at the Dexeus Institute in Barcelona in March 1991.

Presentation at the 12th Basic Course in Strabismological Training with the title “Clinical Aspects of Exotropia”, held in Madrid in April 1990.

Attendance at the Monographic Course of Diseases of the Macula organized by the Department of Surgery of the Autonomous University of Barcelona in January and May 1989.

Panel presentation titled, “Conjunctival Papilloma”, presented at the 64th Congress of the Spanish Society of Ophthalmology, held in Palma de Mallorca in October 1988.

“Results of the Treatment of Eccentric Fixation with Inverse Prism”. 17th Concilium Europaeum Strabismi, held in Paris in 1988.

Cirugía del estrabismo divergente, University of Barcelona. Publications and Editions. Microfiled Collection of Doctoral Theses.

Attendance at the IV Strabological Conferences, held in the Ophthalmology Department from the University Hospital of Valladolid in June 1988.

Attendance at the XXV Intensive Course of Ophthalmo-Neurology organized by the Professional School of Ophthalmological Specialization of the Barraquer Institute from Barcelona in January and February 1988.

Attendance at the 5th Strabismus Course for Postgraduates, organized by the Ophthalmology Service of the Galdako Hospital from Bilbao in November 1987.

Attendance at the Theoretical-Practical Course of Initiation to Strabology, organized by the Ophthalmologist Service of the San Rafael Hospital in Barcelona in November 1987.

Attendance at the scientific, medical and surgical sessions of the IX International Course of Ophthalmology, organized by the Barraquer Institute from Barcelona in May 1987.

Attendance at the Course of Instruction and Adaptation of Contact Lenses organized by Conóptica System in Barcelona in June 1986.

Attendance at the International Course of Recent Advances in Ophthalmology organized by the Department of Ophthalmology of the Clinical and Provincial Hospital of Barcelona in November 1985.

Precision and creativity are two concepts that might seem to contradict one each other, but which identify the two traits that best define the personality and professional demeanour of Dora Fernández Agrafojo. Doctor of ophthalmology, she specialises in strabismus, which is her great passion! She has dedicated her medical career to the study and treatment of strabismus, allowing her to combine a surgeon’s precision with the creativity required to treat a condition in which no two cases are alike. Without hesitation, she states the need to recover the human side of medicine. A doctor should not just be a mere number, but rather a professional with a full name and surname, who inspires confidence and deserves respect.

She manages the INOF Eye Research and Surgery Centre, where she works alongside an exceptional multidisciplinary team. At INOF, she is committed to achieve excellence through a conscientious work ethic, professionalism and the necessary touch of passion.

You were born in Seville. You then moved to Galicia as a child. You did your graduate studies at Santiago de Compostela University. What memories do you have of those years?

Santiago de Compostela is a very interesting and extremely very lively city. Both the university itself and the cultural and student environment were extremely enriching. The medical school was highly prestigious, welcoming students from many different places. The opportunity to combine cultural activities with student life was fantastic.

After finishing your degree, you decided to study your speciality in Barcelona…

Yes, I was looking for a change of scene. I couldn’t decide if it was to be Madrid or Barcelona, but in the end I opted for the latter, where ophthalmology traditionally enjoys a good reputation.

You were awarded a cum laude distinction for your doctoral thesis, titled Divergent Strabismus Surgery. Ever since, your professional life has focused on the study and treatment of strabismus. I have the impression that yours is a little-known speciality. Why is that so?

There is no simple answer… The causes, the very roots of strabismus are to be found in the brain, but the symptoms show in the eye muscles. This is why the set of instruments we use to correct the deviation have been the same for the past hundred years. In the field of strabismus surgery, there have not been any major technological advances, such as the use of lasers in refractive surgery and the use of intraocular lenses in cataract surgery, for example. It is a very traditional type of surgery that acts on the effect and not the cause, and does not require a sophisticated set of instruments. Perhaps the reason why this speciality is little known is that there are no spectacular technological developments and so it is not commented much in the news. If you were to compare it with other conditions, between 4 and 5% of the population suffer from strabismus. This is a much lower figure than for patients of refractive surgery or for those with cataracts.

On the other hand, it is a discipline that relies quite heavily on a personal touch, on the knowledge that each specialist has on alterations of binocular vision, or on how and why ocular motility ceases working and strabismus appears- which is more commonly known as being cross-eyed.

What do you like the most about your speciality?

That each case is unique. Each patient has his or her own unique condition, and the way to approach it, while starting from some shared premises, is always different. The opportunity to apply a touch of creativity, or ingenuity, which is of course based on knowledge and experience, is what really fascinates me.

If the condition is not treated in time, what vision problems can a child with strabismus develop in adulthood?

Apart from the aesthetic side, which I consider to be very important, it should also be borne in mind that the deviating eye is not used and consequently becomes amblyopic, which is more commonly known as “lazy eye”. If the child is not given the appropriate treatment, then even though the aesthetic side can be treated in adulthood, it will not be possible to recover the loss of vision. That is why it is so important to intervene in time, when the child’s vision has not yet been damaged.

Talking about adults with the condition, I imagine that the aesthetic side is also very important… Would you say that your surgical practice, in addition to curing strabismus, also has a direct impact on improving your patients’ self-esteem?

Without a doubt. Adults suffering from strabismus feel uncomfortable with their eye deviation. I had a patient, an elderly man, who never took off his sunglasses, even when he went into his bedroom. He had been told that surgery was not worth it at his age. But at the end he decided to go for it, and he is very pleased that he did. In addition, and although it is difficult to quantify, there is always an improvement in vision, however slight it may be.

Can strabismus in children be treated without surgery?

Sometimes. Some forms of strabismus can be “accommodative”, which refers to long-sighted children making a constant effort to see well, with the resulting deviation in one eye. When children start to wear glasses, they stop making this effort and their eyes line up. But only while wearing glasses.

What is strabismus surgery the level at in Spain?

The level is high. There are not very many strabismologists, but they are good, very good. In general, we have first-rate professionals in all the specialities in ophthalmology.

How long does it take to perform a strabismus surgery?

Between 45 minutes and 1 hour.

Is it under general anaesthesia?

Surgery can be done with local anaesthesia and sedation in adult patients. Children have to be under general anaesthesia, which in my opinion is the best option for both groups.

And what about post-op recovery?

It is very quick. The patient goes home with their eyes uncovered. The first few days can be somewhat uncomfortable because your eyes can feel gritty and there can be conjunctivitis for a short period, about seventy-two hours. The day after the operation, you can already see how well the eyes have aligned, although post-surgical inflammation does not allow us to see the level of success with 100% clarity. But a month later the results will already be very reliable.

You have recently become a mother. How do you combine motherhood with such a demanding profession?

With a lot of very good help. I’m very happy with my team. I work with some really great people. I have been able to spend a few months with reduced work hours. It is also invigorating to work with such a great team, who are more than capable of covering the needs of our patients.

Do you have any other interests or hobbies?

I like art, especially contemporary conceptual art. I believe that with a sound basic knowledge of the classics and tradition, modern art can be a source of suggestions, of expectations. There is always a door that can be opened to discover new sensations. I find it to be very soothing. I am also very interested in fashion, and I consider it a very active reflection of modern society. Along the same lines, I am interested in any art that leads me to reflection.

For example, in relation to the ophthalmologist’s profession, there are two books that have had a real impact on me: Report on the blind, by Ernesto Sábato, and The Guest by Guadalupe Nettel; two Latin American authors, the former Argentinian and the latter Mexican, who deal with the topic of blindness in their works. Both novels make you think very deeply.

Finish the sentence: “I am proud of…”

My family and my job, essentially.

And how about this one: “I regret…”

That’s a difficult one, because in the hardest times in my life, when difficulties have arisen, I have always tried to face problems head on. In that sense, I have no regrets regarding the difficult decisions I have had to make. That does not go with my character.

What would you fight for?

For young doctors to be aware of the doctor-patient relationship importance of, which is something that we run the risk of losing. It is not only the quality of the medicine itself that is important, but also the relationship with the patient that is crucial for their recovery.

Also for the social consideration of doctors and medicine. I would humbly like to play my part so that our profession recovers some of its social prestige, which I sometimes feel is in danger.

What is INOF?

It is the Centre of which I am the director of. We have a multidisciplinary team that deals not only with strabismus, but with all kinds of ophthalmological conditions. The centre carries out research, is represented at conferences, and collaborates in specialised publications, all in order to maintain the level of excellence we strive to achieve. The pursuit of knowledge is our driving force.

What would you say to a recent medical graduate who is interested in strabismus?

It is always exciting to see young people who have the same professional interests as you, the same passion. I would say, “go ahead, there’s nothing better in life than doing what you really enjoy.”