Find a treatment you need

Mole Mapping - Dublin & throughout Ireland Moles are incredibly common skin features, and the vast majority of moles are completely harmless. Ranging from beauty marks to large “birthmarks,” nevi - the medical term for moles - are typically a normal part of the skin present from early childhood. However, moles can sometimes be an indication of an underlying problem. In fact, certain types of moles may be a sign of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Ireland has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in Europe, and data from 2017 indicates that melanoma cases are on the rise, according to the National Cancer Registry Ireland. Like all types of cancer, early detection is crucial to the effective treatment of melanoma. For this reason, it is vital to have your skin checked by a dermatologist. These skin specialists can perform mole mapping, which is invaluable for cataloguing and tracking your moles and other skin characteristics and engage in mole removal when necessary. What is Mole Mapping? Much like a map of terrain records geographic features, mole mapping involves logging your skin features. Your dermatologist will perform a visual inspection of your skin and record the location, size, colour, shape, and other descriptions of your moles and any other lesions. You may very well have no suspicious or concerning moles. However, mole mapping is also essential for future surveillance. Unchanging moles are low-risk for melanoma, yet moles that are new, growing, or shifting in size, shape, or colour may require further investigation. Your dermatologist may want to check your moles using dermoscopy, a specialized skin microscope. They may also decide to take a skin biopsy - a simple and largely painless procedure that can be accomplished in the clinic - to have your mole analysed by a pathologist. What is Involved in Mole Mapping? Mole mapping is straightforward. Your dermatologist will ask you to undress and will survey your skin. They will mark all your moles on a chart and list their characteristics. They may also take close-up photographs of your skin for comparison to future examinations. As stated above, your dermatologist may elect to perform dermoscopy or skin biopsies as necessary. Who Should Undergo Mole Mapping? Really, anyone can benefit from mole mapping. In particular, patients with many moles should certainly consider mole mapping. Speak with a dermatologist if you have questions or concerns. You should also be aware of the risk factors for melanoma. These factors include: Fair or light-coloured skin Frequent exposure to sunlight A history of frequent sunburns Numerous moles, especially moles that are unusual or irregular in appearance A family history of melanoma Melanoma has excellent survival rates, but only when the disease is caught in its early stages. If melanoma is detected late, the chances of survival can decrease significantly. Therefore, it is paramount to have regular skin surveillance, especially if you have one or more risk factors for melanoma. Make certain that you have a dermatologist examine your skin and undergo mole mapping if your dermatologist recommends it. Mole mapping is a brief, non-invasive procedure that could possibly save your life.

Cataract Surgery Cataract surgery, also called lens replacement surgery, is the removal of the natural lens of the eye that has developed opacification or become cloudy, which is referred to as a cataract. The cloudy lens is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens. What is Cataract Surgery? You have likely heard of cataracts since this condition is one of the chief causes of vision loss, particularly among those over 55 years old. However, contrary to what some may think, a cataract is not a growth of skin or tumour over the eye. Instead, cataracts are foggy eye lenses. Here, we will tell you all about cataracts, including treatment in the form of cataract surgery. What is a Cataract? A cataract is an opacification - or fogging - of the ocular lens. Each of your eyes has a lens that aids in focusing light onto your retina. In turn, your retina receives the light and transmits it along your optic nerves to your brain for interpretation. In essence, this is how you see. Although cataracts can end up causing total or near-total loss of vision, most cataracts begin with only mild symptoms. The initial symptoms are usually blurred vision, difficulty seeing in bright light, double vision, poor night vision, faded colours, seeing “halos” or “auras” around light sources, and trouble with seeing electronic screens like televisions or computer monitors. Why do Cataracts Form? Cataracts form when the tissue that makes up the eye lenses changes. For the vast majority of cataracts, this change is simply the result of aging. Less often, cataracts may form as a result of eye injury. The injury may be caused by exposure to bright light, as seen in welders. The injury may also be eye trauma caused by accident or a foreign body. In a few cases, cataracts may arise from exposure to radiation, such as during certain types of cancer therapies. While increasing age is the top risk factor for cataract formation, other risk factors include obesity, frequent exposure to bright sunlight without eye protection, diabetes, and hypertension (high blood pressure). Eye inflammation from disease and previous eye surgeries can also raise your risk for cataracts. What is Involved in Cataract Surgery? When vision impairment from cataracts reaches the point that it negatively impacts your daily life, your ophthalmologist may recommend cataract surgery. Cataracts can prevent you from driving, reading, watching television, and more. Cataract surgery is generally very successful and can help restore your vision. Typically, cataract surgery is in the form of an intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. IOL implantation is a relatively straightforward procedure where your ophthalmologist removes your clouded lens and inserts an artificial lens. Of course, IOL implantation begins with a consultation with your ophthalmologist. If your ophthalmologist determines that IOL implantation could be helpful in your case, they will take measurements of your eyes, usually using a painless ultrasound procedure. They will also select the best type of IOL for your situation. If you have cataracts in both eyes, you will undergo surgery on a single eye at a time. The operation can be carried out in a clinic, and there is typically no need for an overnight stay in hospital. You will be sedated for the procedure, and your surgeon will remove the lens with the cataract. Next, they will insert the IOL and awaken you from sedation. It is crucial to follow your surgeon’s postoperative instructions. Any discomfort should resolve after a few days, but it may take up to eight weeks for your eye to heal completely. Do not worry - you should have good vision during most of this time. Your new artificial lens will not degenerate over time, and most patients who have undergone cataract surgery enjoy decades of useful vision.

Early pregnancy can be a very exciting time and often couples want to see their baby as soon as possible. This scan is available to anyone who wants some reassurance, but particularly for those who are unsure of their dates, have had some bleeding, pelvic pains, concerns, or have felt that their early pregnancy symptoms have disappeared when they should be present. The purpose of the early pregnancy scan is: To confirm location of the pregnancy (Is the baby inside the womb?) To determine fetal viability (Is my baby’s heart beating?) To measure fetal heart rate (How fast is the baby’s heart beat?) To provide accurate gestational dating by crown-rump-length (How far along am I?) To establish an estimated due date (When is my baby due?) To determine number of fetuses (Could I be having twins?) To assess the ovaries and uterus to make sure that they are normal (please note that these structures are not always clear on ultrasound) This scan cannot: Rule out chromosomal or anatomical abnormalities Assess the final location of the placental as it is too early When is the best time to go for an Early Pregnancy Scan? The heart beat of the embryo can be seen from 6 weeks onward, therefore, the Early Pregnancy Baby Scan can be performed from 6 weeks 0 days – 11 weeks 6 days from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP). If your menstrual cycle is longer than 28 days it is advisable to wait until you are at least till 8 weeks from your LMP to confirm the viability of the embryo as you may not be as far as your dates suggest. How do I prepare for an Early Pregnancy Scan? You are required to have an adequately full bladder for your early pregnancy scan. What to expect from the early pregnancy scan During the ultrasound scan the position and shape of the gestational sac is assessed. It is important to see the sac within the uterus as this excludes an ectopic pregnancy. The presence of the embryo or possibly multiple embryos is reviewed. The heart rate is measured to determine viability. A measurement is then taken from the tip of the head to the little bottom, called the crown rump length (CRL). When performed correctly, this measurement is the most accurate way of dating a pregnancy. Many studies show that this form of dating is more accurate than the first day of the last period or measurements taken at detailed anomaly scan which is carried out at around 20 weeks. We also examine the uterus and ovaries for any pathology such as ovarian cysts or fibroids.