Good news for Kampot's Citizens. A qualified Eye Surgeon that speaks perfect english and also runs a shop for Spectacles is working in Kampot.

Dr Lip You is not known to me. Nor does the advertisement state that he/she is an ophthalmologist. This is very strange for anyone at the top of the medical ophthalmic profession.

I should be delighted if Kampot now has a fully qualified ophthalmologist. Please confirm this as no details as to Dr You's medical ophthalmic qualifications is mentioned in the advertising material.

Previously, Kampot has only had an "Eye Doctor" which is a far, far lesser medical qualification than "Ophthalmologist".

I look forward to your confirmation as to Dr You's medical ophthalmic qualifications.

OML

I have no means to find out if her card tells the truth or not. When i went there today i found a professional acting woman that god thanks seems to live at the same location and therefore is available most of the time in case of an emergency. I trust her card but have extremely bad experience with the Eye Clinic Section of the Kampot Referral Hospital which i believe was originally set up by Australians but seems to be abandoned by now. So if i need an Opthomologist i would use that Lady anytime again.

Hello emm

Your understanding about the Kampot Provincial eye unit aligns with others - it has a very poor reputation - except for one very important detail.

The Eye Unit Building was paid for by the Australian Tax Payer funded ABI - Australian Blindness Initiative - of many years ago. Australia ONLY provided a building in which the practice of ophthalmology could be practiced. The provision of ophthalmic practitioners and qualified Diploma of Ophthalmic Nursing staff etc was entirely the responsibility of the Cambodian Ministry of Health in association with the Cambodian National Programme of Eye Health - NPEH.

The conduit for the provision of this building was the Fred Hollow Foundation which, while active in promoting eye care in Cambodia, actually does not undertake any eye surgery in its own right or by its own staff. And there is a prominent stone plaque in front of the Eye Unit stating that the funding was provided by the people of Australia through AUSAID - The Australian Agency for International Development - through the Fred Hollows Foundation.

But back to my original question. Is this person a fully qualified Ophthalmologist or not? I don't know this name, which is strange as I have the names and HP numbers and other contact details for many of the Ophthalmologists in Cambodia on my HP speed dial as I frequently work with them or supporting them in material ways and have done so for many years now.

I repeat, I should be delighted to learn that Kampot now has a fully qualified graduate Ophthalmologist given that there are a number of far lesser qualified "Basic Eye Doctors" and "Eye Doctors" as legacy medical professionals from a far lesser developed era of Cambodia still in practice.

In fact, I am seeking advice about DR Lip You from Cambodian associates who are Ophthalmologists. But this will take some time to get a reply.

It is irresponsible to post about medical specialists about whom one does not know their professional medical qualifications, and especially so in a lesser developed country such as Cambodia where there are "eye surgeon" operating that that simply would not be allowed to practice in more developed countries.

Once again, I will be delighted if Kampot now has an Ophthalmologist in practice there.

OML

Well, ask her than, All details are on her card.
PS: There used to be a highly recommended German Opthomologist in Takeo where many Khmer went for treatment. After he left the place was not recommended anymore, sad story but again a classic of Foreign Aid gone awry.

I am delighted to confirm that Dr LIP You is a fully qualified OPHTALMOLOGIST.
Long overdue in Kampot.

OML

The card says “ophthalmic surgeon” whilst it might not be the correct term it’s clear they are qualified.

Not quite so as Cambodia has Basic Eye Doctors and Eye Doctors, which are far lesser qualifications and years less medical study, training and experience, also performing eye surgery in Cambodia and who may legally call themselves eye surgeons because the do a limited number of common eye surgical procedures.

Cambodia has a "Legacy" of such lesser qualified eye surgeons but the system has matured considerably in the twenty years that I have been involved in supporting such persons, and slowly a few fully qualified ophthalmologists are entering the system but, unfortunately, the country needs far more of them. These lesser qualified practitioners were essential in the early days to establish a national basic eye care system.

It now takes a full seven years training as a doctor + one year medical internship + usually some time as a general practitioner + a minimum of four years specialised post medical graduate training as an ophthalmologist to graduate and practice as an ophthalmologist.

When it comes to one's eyes always go to an ophthalmologist if one is available and always so in the event of an emergency eye trauma.

OML

Has anyone here used Dr LIP You for cataract surgery or other procedure? Can you share your experiences?

Ot Mean Loi wrote: ↑Sun Jan 24, 2021 1:19 pm I am delighted to confirm that Dr LIP You is a fully qualified OPHTALMOLOGIST.
Long overdue in Kampot.

OML

For cataract and other eye surgery in Cambodia you have a number of very well qualified and experienced ophthalmologists/eye surgeons to chose from.

But before doing so, you need to know and understand the following:

1. In Cambodia there are, in order of professional ophthalmic qualifications and training - Ophthalmologists, Eye Doctors and Basic Eye Doctors. Chose an ophthalmologist every time.

2. The differences in the two prevailing types of cataract surgery performed in Cambodia. This is best discussed with the ophthalmologist you consult. There is a very big difference in costs involved although the visual acuity outcome will, in every probability, be identical. Also understand that the costs of IOLs- Intra Ocular Implants - can and do vary very considerably, although the cheapest achieve, for all practical purposes, the same outcome as the very expensive proprietary brand name IOLs.

The two main types of cataract surgery are:

Expensive: PHACO - Phacoemulsification is a modern cataract surgery in which the eye's internal lens is emulsified with an ultrasonic handpiece and aspirated from the eye. Aspirated fluids are replaced with irrigation of balanced salt solution to maintain the anterior chamber.

Affordable: SICS - Manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS; also SICS or SECCE) is a low-cost, small-incision form of extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) that is principally employed in the developing world. Compared to traditional ECCE, MSICS has the advantage of a self-sealing suture less wound.

For cataract surgery in Phnom Penh, it is suggested that you consult one or more of the following ophthalmologists.

Dr. and Professor NGY MENG Co chairman, Cambodian NPEH + Director of Russian Hospital
DR. and Professor DO Seiha HP 012 840 796, Coordinator NPEH

NPEH = Cambodia National Programme of Eye Health

There are several others but I do not have their contact details to hand as I post this.

Then you have the several private and very much for profit eye clinics. One of the better ones being the Metro Medical (and ophthalmic) Centre, on the corner of Norodom Boulevard and Street # 240. Tel 096 285 5646

For those living in the provinces, the following Cambodian RANZCO (Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists) trained ophthalmologists are recommended.

Battambang: BOC = Battambang Ophthalmic Care - BOC - Cambodian local total eye care organization that performs circa 1/3 of all eye surgeries in Cambodia. Contact the Director, Dr EK Sarou HP 017 299 296. Mostly free of charge treatment for very poor Cambodians with eye problems but also accepts fee for service treatment of non-indigent Cambodians.

Siem Reap: Dr KONG Sunly Ophthalmologist. HP 012 781 981

Sisophon: Dr TOUK Barang Ophthalmologist. HP 012 923 346

Hope this helps.

OML