Ophthalmology in a Field Hospital

The role of the ophthalmologist in the field hospital is important and irreplaceable; ocular injuries during a disaster can result in considerable disability and often require the care of an ophthalmologic surgeon. The ophthalmology field is a high technology area with the need for expensive equipment that are not available in the field hospital. The working scenario for the ophthalmologist in the delegation is very different than the one existing in a hospital in developed countries; therefore, first and foremost, a change in mental attitude is needed. Understanding the characteristics of ocular injuries during various types of disasters in different geographical areas is important to be able to prepare for them properly, both mentally and practically. Another dominant factor is time: the nature of ophthalmology patient’s varies significantly as time passes. While in the first days after the disaster most ocular injuries are related to disaster, as time passes most of the referral patients are nondisaster related injuries such as chronic ocular problems of the local population. This chapter covers the preparation needed for treating ocular injuries during disasters and the ophthalmology layout in the field hospital scenario.