Dr. Beatriz Ferreira Duarte

Dr. Beatriz Ferreira Duarte is a consultant ophthalmologist at Hospital de Clínicas — the principal teaching hospital of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA) and Paraguay's most important academic medical institution. With 14 years of ophthalmology practice, she is among Paraguay's experienced eye surgeons, specialising in cataract surgery, diabetic eye disease, and glaucoma.

Paraguay faces a significant diabetic eye disease burden, with high rates of type 2 diabetes driving diabetic retinopathy as a leading cause of preventable vision loss. Dr. Ferreira Duarte's retina practice addresses this through systematic screening, laser photocoagulation, and intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents for diabetic macular oedema. Cataract — still the leading cause of reversible blindness in Paraguay, particularly in rural areas — forms the core of her surgical practice.

She undertook a retina subspecialty fellowship in Argentina following her ophthalmology residency, gaining advanced vitreoretinal skills. She consults in Spanish and Guaraní — Paraguay's bilingual official languages — enabling her to communicate with patients from all sectors of the country's diverse population.

Dr. Ferreira Duarte completed her Doctor en Medicina at the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA) and her ophthalmology residency at Hospital de Clínicas. She undertook a subspecialty fellowship in medical and surgical retina at a leading Argentine ophthalmology centre, where she trained in vitreoretinal surgery, intravitreal injection techniques, and fluorescein angiography. She participates in Sociedad Paraguaya de Oftalmología continuing education and Latin American ophthalmology congress programmes.

Dr. Ferreira Duarte's surgical practice is centred on cataract surgery by phacoemulsification — the modern microsurgical gold standard — with intraocular lens implantation, including premium multifocal and toric lenses for correction of presbyopia and astigmatism. She performs intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents (bevacizumab, ranibizumab) for diabetic macular oedema and wet age-related macular degeneration. Laser photocoagulation is performed for proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular grid laser for macular oedema.

In glaucoma, she manages medical therapy (topical prostaglandins, beta-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors) and performs trabeculectomy and other filtering surgery for medically uncontrolled glaucoma. Vitreoretinal surgery for retinal detachment is performed at Hospital de Clínicas. Fluorescein angiography is used for retinal vascular imaging.

Hospital de Clínicas is a major referral centre for Paraguay and receives patients from the Paraguayan diaspora and from neighbouring Brazil and Bolivia. Dr. Ferreira Duarte consults in Spanish (and Guaraní for local Paraguayan patients). Video consultations are available for initial case review of retina or cataract conditions before patients travel to Asunción. Paraguay's ophthalmological services offer high quality at significantly lower costs than Brazil or Argentina, attracting cross-border medical tourism in eye care.

Dr. Ferreira Duarte is a member of the Sociedad Paraguaya de Oftalmología and has been recognised by Hospital de Clínicas for clinical excellence in ophthalmology and postgraduate teaching. She has presented research on diabetic retinopathy outcomes and cataract surgery results at Paraguayan and Latin American ophthalmology congresses. She contributes to the UNA Faculty of Medicine as a clinical teacher for ophthalmology residents.