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Our leading specialists

The Latvian American Eye Center is proud to employ a highly-skilled and qualified group of ophthalmic doctors and surgeons. The team constantly updates its ophthalmic knowledge through international programmes and the constant supervision of Professor McDermott. Our team also continues to attend medical conferences and seminars in the USA, U.K., Australia, India, Germany, Denmark and Sweden to seek professional perfection.

Our history has been marked by constant attention to patient care, and is symbolised by 3 values – professionalism, technology, trust between doctor and patient.

All our medical staff are
Qualified and certificated professionals
Trained in their speciality
Update their medical skills constantly
Familiar in dealing with the needs and demands of foreign patients
Skilled in a variety of languages
Patient orientated

Ophthalmologists

Dr. Ēriks Elksnis
Certified ophthalmologist - eye anterior segment surgeon
Dr. Ēriks Elksnis

Specialization
Certified ophthalmologist - eye anterior segment surgeon

Education

  • 01/12/2021 defended PhD in medical science with title “Tear
    Osmolarity After Cataract Surgery”
  • 2016 – 2019 Riga Stradins University, Doctoral studies
  • 2013 – 2017 Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital, Resident
    Ophthalmologist
  • 2006 - 2013 Riga Stradins University, Faculty of Medicine

Work experience

  • Since March 2023 Responsible Physician at the Tissue Center,
    Latvian American Eye Center.
  • Since October 3, 2022 Medical Development Director at the Latvian
    American Eye Center.
  • Since October 3, 2022 Residency Program Director at the Latvian
    American Eye Center.
  • Since October 3, 2022 Ophthalmologist at the Latvian American Eye
    Center.
  • Since December 2021 Board Member of the Latvian Association of
    Ophthalmologists.
  • Since October 1, 2017 - till November 1, 2023 Ophthalmologist in the
    Eye Microsurgery Department at Pauls Stradins Clinical University
    Hospital.
  • Since 2016 Lecturer at the Department of Ophthalmology, Riga
    Stradins University.

Languages

  • Latvian
  • English
  • Russian
  • German – Basic knowledge
Dr. Māra Briede
Certified ophthalmologist-surgeon, cataract, glaucoma, vitreoretinal surgery
Dr. Māra Briede

Specialization
Certified ophthalmologist-surgeon, cataract, glaucoma, vitreoretinal surgery

Education

  • 1972 – 1973 Internship in Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital
  • 1966 – 1972 Riga Institute of Medicine

Professional activity

  • Member of the European Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
  • Member of Latvian Ophthalmology Association 
  • Annual participation in the congresses organised by the American Academy  of Ophthalmology 
  • Annual cataract surgery congresses
  • 2000 Vitreoretinal surgery, South California
  • 1999 Retinal surgery, Regensburg, Germany
  • 1998 Cataract and vitreoretinal surgery, Paris
  • 1995 Arthur Giebel, M.D. (USA), phacoemulsification technique
  • 1992 John J.McDermott, M.D. (USA), IOL implantation technique
  • 1990 General ophthalmology in Amiens, France
  • 1990 Vitreoretinal surgery, 15-20 Eye Disease Hospital, Paris
  • 1985-1987 Work in the Tiaret Eye Clinic, Algeria
  • 1983 Retinal surgery, Moscow

Work experience

  • since 1994 Head ophthalmologist-surgeon in Latvian American Eye Center
  • since 2000 Head of the Eye Disease Department of the Riga 1st Hospital
  • 1996-1999 Head of the Eye Disease Clinic
  • 1992-1996 Head Ophthalmologist of Latvia
  • 1987 -2000 Head of the 1st Division of the Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital
  • 1974-2000 ophthalmologist in Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital

Languages

  • Latvian
  • English
  • Russian
  • French
Dr. Ilze Šveiduka
Certified ophthalmologist-surgeon, cataract, refractive surgery (ICL), corneal transplantation
Dr. Ilze Šveiduka

Specialization
Certified ophthalmologist-surgeon, cataract, refractive surgery (ICL), corneal transplantation

Education
1988 – 1994 Latvian Academy of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine

Professional activity

  • Member of the European Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
  • Member of Latvian Ophthalmology Association 
  • Annual participation in the congresses organised by the American Academy  of Ophthalmology
  • Annual participation in Latvian, Baltic and European ophthalmology congreses and seminars 
  • Educational lecturing for doctors and optometrists
  • OPHTEC The Artisan & Artiflex Officia Training Course, Groningen, Netherlands, 2018
  • XXXVI ESCRS Congress of the European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, Vienna, Austria, 2018
  • Observship in the field of Medical Retina at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK, 2017
  • XXXV ESCRS Congress of the European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, Lisbon, Portugal, 2017
  • Baltic Eye Surgeon Talk Show BEST, Parnu, Estonia, 2016
  • EUCORNEA European Retinal Society congress, Barcelona, Spain, 2015
  • NIIOS (Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery) DMEK workshop (part of the ESCRS XXXII congress), London, UK, 2014
  • 2004 Refractive IOL (Visian ICL) implantation course, Dr. Göran Helgason MD, Medocular Ögonkliniker, Gothenborg, Sweden
  • 2002 Practiced phacoemulsification technique under the supervision of professor Arthur Giebel (USA)
  • 1996 – 1997 Cataract microsurgery program in „Aravind Eye Hospital", Madurai and Tirunelveli, India
  • 1996 Contact lens technology courses „The World Wide Eye Educational Institute” program, California, USA
  • 1996 South California University Ophthalmology residency course, Doheny Eye Disease Institute, USA
  • 2010 Practical course "Corneal transplantation (DMEK) technique" with Prof. Arthur Giebel (USA)
  • 2012 Certification course for work with MENICON RGP contact lenses

Work experience

  • since 2019 ophthalmologist-surgeon in Riga East University Hospital
  • since 1998 ophthalmologist-surgeon in Latvian American Eye Center
  • 1995 – 1998 doctor’s assistant in Latvian American Eye Center

Languages

  • Latvian
  • English
  • Russian
Dr. Iveta Mežatuča
Certified ophthalmologist-surgeon, eye plastic surgery, cataract surgery
Dr. Iveta Mežatuča

Specialization
Certified ophthalmologist-surgeon, eye plastic surgery, cataract surgery

Education

  • 1990 – 1996 Latvian Academy of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
  • 1996 – 2000 Residency in ophthalmology

Professional activity

  • Member of Latvian Ophthalmology Association
  • Annual participation in Latvian, Baltic, European and USA ophthalmology congreses and seminars 
  • Aesthetic Eyelid and Facial Rejuvenation Dissection Workshop at UCLA Center for Health Sciences, California, USA, July 2019
  • Advanced Aesthetic Blepharoplasty Dissection Course, Saint-Petersburg, Russia, February 2019
  • 8th Balkan Ophthalmic Wetlab Course Phacoemusification Advanced, Sofia, Bulgaria, June 2018
  • The 2nd Manchester Oculoplastic, Lacrimalm & Orbital Dissection Course, University of Manchester, January, 2015
  • 2007 Oculoplastics Training Course: Øjenlægepraksis v/Steen Hagen, Denmark
  • 2006 Cataract Surgery Phaco Method Training Course in Aravind Eye Hospital, India
  • 2004 Oculoplastics surgery training course in Tallinn Central Hospital, Estonia
  • 2003 Cataract microsurgery training course in Aravind Eye Hospital, India

Work experience
since 2000 ophthalmologist-surgeon in Latvian American Eye Center

Languages

  • Latvian
  • English
  • Russian
Dr. Ingrīda Sargune
Certified ophthalmologist, retinal disease diagnostics, treatment and laser therapy
Dr. Ingrīda Sargune

Specialization
Certified ophthalmologist, retinal disease diagnostics, treatment and laser therapy

Education

  • 1987 - 1993 Latvian Academy of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
  • Postgraduate Education in the eye clinics of Riga

Professional activity

  • Member of Latvian Ophthalmology Association
  • Annual participation in Latvian, Baltic and European ophthalmology congreses and seminars 
  • FLORetina 2019, Florence, Italy, 2019
  • An Intensive Practical Course on Laser Techniques for Ophthalmologists, St.Thomas Hospital, London, UK, 2019

Work experience

  • since 2013 ophthalmologist in Latvian American Eye Centre
  • since 2002 I.Sargune’s private practice in ophthalmology
  • 2000 – 2004 ophthalmologist in Rēzekne Hospital
  • 1994 – 2002 ophthalmologist in Rēzekne Health Care Center

Languages

  • Latvian
  • English
  • Russian
Dr. Ilze Strautmane
Certified ophthalmologist, neuroophthalmologist, medical retina specialist
Dr. Ilze Strautmane

Specialization
Certified ophthalmologist, neuroophthalmologist, medical retina specialist

Education

  • 2011 University of California Doheney Eye Center, Department of Neurophthalmology, USA
  • 2001 – 2005 Ophthalmology doctor-resident in Latvian American Eye Center, University of Latvia Postgraduate Education Centre
  • 1995 – 2001 Latvian Academy of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine

Professional activity

  • Member of Latvian Ophthalmology Association
  • Annual participation in Latvian, Baltic and European  neuroophthalmology and medical retina congreses and seminars 

Work experience

  • since 2006 ophthalmologist-neuroophthalmologist and medical retina specialist in Latvian American Eye Center
  • since 2012 neuroophthalmologist in Riga East University Hospital
  • 2007 – 2012 ophthalmologist in Riga East University Hospital, eye casualty ward (trauma point)

Languages

  • Latvian
  • English
  • Russian
Dr. Ieva Kūlniece
Certified ophthalmologist, children ophthalmology and strabology
Dr. Ieva Kūlniece

Specialization
Certified ophthalmologist, children ophthalmology and strabology

Education

  • 1989 – 1990 Internship in Riga Medical Institute
  • 1983 – 1989 Riga Medical Institute

Professional activity

  • Member of Latvian Ophthalmology Association
  • Member of Association of Doctors of Latvia
  • Annual participant in European Paediatric Ophthalmological Society congresses (EPOS) and European strabology congresses
  • Annual Participant in European and Baltic ophthalmology symposiums
  • 2014 Children ophthalmology course in London UCL     Institute of Child Health, United Kingdom
  • 2012 Children ophthalmology course in London UCL     Institute of Child Health, United Kingdom
  • 2008, 2002 Internship in children ophthalmology at Copenhagen Glostrup, Herlev and Righospitalet hospitals, Denmark
  • 1993 – 1994 Internship in children ophthalmology at Royal Children’s Eye and Ear Hospital Melbourne, Australia

Work experience

  • 1990 – 1996 ophthalmologist in Children's Clinical University Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology
  • 2006 – 2012 ophthalmologist in Children's Clinical University Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology
  • since 1994 ophthalmologist-strabologist in Latvian American Eye Center

Languages

  • Latvian
  • English
  • Russian
Dr. Indars Lācis
Certified ophthalmologist, laser ophthalmologist, surgeon; Diagnosis and therapy of retinal diseases (laser therapy, intravitreal injections); Laser Vision Correction; Cataract Surgery; Glaucoma diagnosis and therapy
Dr. Indars Lācis

Specialization
Certified ophthalmologist, laser ophthalmologist, surgeon; Diagnosis and therapy of retinal diseases (laser therapy, intravitreal injections); Laser Vision Correction; Cataract Surgery; Glaucoma diagnosis and therapy

Education

  • 1988 - 1994 Riga Stradins University, Faculty of Medicine
  • 1994 – 1997 Ophthalmology residency at Riga Stradins University
  • 2010 – 2013 Doctoral studies at the University of Latvia

Professional Activity

  • Member of Latvian Ophthalmology Association
  • Member of the European Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
  • Education in clinics in USA, Germany, Austria, Spain, Belgium, Italy, England, France
  • Annual participation in Latvian, Baltic, European and USA ophthalmology congreses and seminars 

Work experience

  • since 2019  ophthalmologist in Latvian American Eye Center
  • 1997 -  ophthalmologist in P. Stradins KUS, Ophthalmology Clinic, Laser Ophthalmology Department 
  • 2014. – Riga 1st Hospital, Ophthalmology Clinic
  • 2012. – 2019. Dr. Lukins eye clinic

Languages

  • Latvian; 
  • English;
  • German;
  • Russian
Dr.Ilona Volkova
Certified ophthalmologist-surgeon, adults and children ophthalmology, strabology, refractive surgery, orthokeratology
Dr.Ilona Volkova

Specialization
Certified ophthalmologist-surgeon, adults and children ophthalmology, strabology, refractive surgery, orthokeratology

Education 

  • 2014 – 2018 Residency in ophthalmology
  • 2007 – 2015 University of Latvia, Faculty of Medicine

Professional activity

  • Member of Latvian Ophthalmology Association
  • Member of EuCornea 
  • Annual participation in Latvian, Baltic and European ophthalmology congreses and seminars 
  • EVO Visian ICL theoretical workshop, Paris, France, 2019
  • SMILE WetLab and SMILE Experience Theater practical workshop (during ESCRS), Paris, France, 2019
  • VisuMax Basics, MEL90, VisuMAx SMILE,PRESBYOND ZEISS Online Academy, 2019
  • Practical and theoretical workshop of refractive Refaractive Laser Surgery, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2019
  • Orthokeratohology course (Paragon lenses), Kiev, Ukrain, 2019

Work experience

  • since 2018 ophthalmologist in Latvian American Eye Center
  • since 2016 doctors assistant and residency doctor in Latvian American Eye Center
  • 2016 – 2017 Riga East University Hospital Eye Trauma and Emergency Department, internship

Languages

  • Latvian
  • English
  • Russian

Optometrists

Līva Balaša
Optometrist
Ieva Ansone
Optometrist
Elīna Vēvere
Optometrist
Evija Gulbinska
Optometrist
Sabīne Matulēviča
Optometrist