A New Chapter Starting January 2025: Closing a Cycle at CUF Porto Hospital

After more than nine years, I have realised the increasing importance of the time I dedicate to my patients. Time, a finite resource, has become the primary reason to reassess my priorities. Embracing multiple projects is enriching, but it can also compromise the quality of time devoted to each of them and the people involved. Thus, I have decided to focus my clinical practice on the Amarante (Clínica Médica Cristal Center) and Porto (UNICLÍNICA) offices, prioritising a medical approach centred on the human doctor-patient relationship.

As a result, starting in January 2025, I will no longer be part of the ophthalmology team at CUF Porto Hospital. This decision, though difficult, reflects the necessity of restructuring my weekly schedule to balance my responsibilities as a clinician and surgeon, a university professor and researcher, and, above all, my dedication to my family as a father and husband.

I began my journey at CUF Porto Hospital in 2015, and this collaboration brought countless opportunities for growth and learning. This decision has never been about severing ties with the CUF group, let alone with the people with whom I shared memories, victories, and unwavering commitment. I extend my deepest gratitude to my fellow ophthalmologists, colleagues in various specialities, orthoptic technicians, nurses, administrative staff, and assistants for their support and friendship over these years.

This transition will allow me to continue my dedication to ophthalmological care in my Porto and Amarante offices, particularly in Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus subspecialties. Childhood is a critical period for visual development, making early diagnosis and treatment essential for conditions such as amblyopia, strabismus, refractive errors, and many others. A patient-centred approach ensures time is taken to truly listen to and understand concerns, fostering more personalised and effective care. Given the dynamic nature of a child’s visual development, early stimulation, timely diagnosis, and appropriate interventions are pivotal to shaping a child’s visual future.

This approach is grounded in the historical perspective of Paediatric Ophthalmology, which has evolved since the 19th century with the establishment of children’s hospitals and advances in surgical and diagnostic techniques. However, I firmly believe that visual health requires more than technological advancements for both children and adults: it demands time, empathy, and dedication. This is the guiding principle in both my personal and professional life.

I invite everyone to visit my practices and experience a personalised approach to care, always focused on the interpersonal relationship.

With my best regards,
(Prof. Dr.) Paulo Freitas da Costa
Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus