Drs. Karin van der Maesen

Positive impact on someone’s life

“During my medical training at the University of Amsterdam, I quickly discovered that I wanted to become an ophthalmologist,” says Drs. Karin van der Maesen. “An eye shows you a lot. You can quickly and with few resources find out what is wrong. You don’t have to do an ultrasound, an X-ray or a scan first, but you can look directly into the eye.”

Huge impact

Drs. Van der Maesen sees more advantages in her profession. “Ophthalmology is a very technical profession and that appeals to me enormously. But the best thing about my work is that I can really mean something to people. Together we discuss the various treatment options. The improvement of vision after successful treatment has a huge impact on someone’s life. You perform a treatment and people leave satisfied, that gives me a lot of satisfaction.”

“I started my medical training with the idea that I would become a pediatrician, but I soon realized that I would find it difficult to let go of the grief over terminally ill children. I was also fascinated by neurology and seriously considered taking that direction. But patients with neurological disorders often cannot be offered the same quality of life. Ultimately, I consciously and with great enthusiasm chose ophthalmology. It is a broad field that you can delve into endlessly. I did this at various hospitals and institutes. There are so many treatment options and increasingly advanced tools.”

Expert by experience

Drs. Van der Maesen had multifocal lenses implanted himself. “I found that a very special experience. I do a lot of eye surgeries, including many refractive lens changes. I have seen and experienced it from the other side. Clients often like the fact that I am also an expert by experience.”

Variety

Within FYEO, Drs. Van der Maesen performs the entire range of treatments. “I really enjoy the variety in my work: the different treatments and the diversity of people who come in. At FYEO, we treat both older and younger people who want to be able to go through life without glasses or lenses. It is a challenge to look together at the best options to achieve the best result. What I like about working at FYEO is that we have great equipment and techniques and that there is a driven group of very experienced ophthalmologists. We consult with each other, learn from each other and share our experiences. It feels like a privilege to be part of such a great team.”

Drs. Van der Maesen is also Medical Coordinator of the Northwest Region at FYEO. “A valuable, responsible position.”