Moran CORE

Ophthalmology in Spanish

Basic Ophthalmology Review / Additional Resources

Title: Ophthalmology in Spanish

Author: Ivan Cardenas, MSIV University of Utah School of Medicine

Date: 09/05/2023

Keywords/Main Subjects: Medical Spanish, Translation, Ophthalmologic terminology, Health disparities

Description of Case:

Introduction

Medicine has historically struggled with the social and cultural barriers present when interacting with patients from diverse backgrounds. As a result, many patients forego healthcare and particularly eye care completely.¹ This is especially troubling as the rate of diabetes, and subsequently diabetic retinopathy, is disproportionately higher in minority populations.² This is not unique to just diabetes, as minority populations are also found to have increased rates of glaucoma and cataracts, typically in more advanced stages at the initiation of treatment³. One of the many factors influencing this disparity is that of language. Through barriers in language, patients are often found to have decreased quality of care, increased miscommunication errors, decreased follow-up, and even impact the health system by requiring interpreter services and increased length of visits.⁴

Fortunately, many organizations and patients have benefited from the use of interpreter services. Studies have shown improved adherence to treatment and improved understanding when translations were used.^6,7 By combining the use of interpreter services with a healthcare team that has some familiarity with the language, outcomes and patient experiences will continue to improve.

In this article, we will review the basics of Ophthalmology in Spanish through direct word translations, specialty-specific translations, and common sayings/sentence translations. The translations are done in part through my personal experience, and through widely available resources including the American Academy of Ophthalmology⁸, Eyeguru⁹, the National Eye Institute¹⁰, and various other translated texts from societies and providers¹¹. Regardless of your training in Ophthalmology, the basic translations of relevant words will allow you to confidently perform an exam and provide excellent patient care while fostering a close patient-provider relationship, though it will always benefit the patient in many ways to have an interpreter available per their preference.

Using an Interpreter Effectively:

The use of an interpreter as stated previously is incredibly beneficial to patients and providers.¹² While most organizations will offer training and resources on how best to utilize translators, it is helpful to refresh the basics. Interpreters can be offered to patients in person, through a video, through a phone call, and even through translating apps. An interpreter’s goal during the patient visit is to provide direct translations between the provider and the patient, in the first-person format. Whether the translator is physically present or virtual, the provider should make the effort to look at the patient when speaking, while the patient is speaking, and when the translator is speaking. It becomes less personal when provider and patient are only looking at the interpreter during their conversations. When concerns or confusion comes up, an interpreter will ask for a repetition, a rephrasing, or may take the liberty to ask the provider if it is okay for them to attempt to reexplain the translation using different terminology. One advantage interpreters may provide is cultural understanding and familiarity with the language, which allows them to explain technical terms in more common, understandable terms. While it may be tempting and time-efficient to rely on family, friends, or other untrained interpreters, it is widely known and studied that this results in more errors.¹²

When utilizing an interpreter in any format, it is best practice to pause regularly to allow the interpreter to translate effectively. Typically taking a pause after 2-3 sentences to allow for translation. While it is simple in theory, it is easy to forget and patients will also often not pause for the translator. While it makes it more difficult, and some translations may be lost, it still typically provides for an effective conversation. Many interpreters will take notes while translating to highlight important talking points and can effectively translate anything and everything that is said, but there are varying levels of experience between translators that can make this difficult. Ultimately an interpreter’s role is to bridge the language barrier between the healthcare team and patients, as the healthcare team we are able to help integrate this process.

Section 1 – The Basics:

This section aims to provide translations for eye anatomy and patient care basics. Many anatomical words are Latin-derived, which make the translations easier to learn and remember than most and they provide a great foundation to build from. The similarity of Spanish and English also allows for easier learning and pronunciation. As with learning any new skill, it will be daunting and oftentimes may feel embarrassing to put into practice, but most patients will be grateful for the efforts made to incorporate their language into their care. The basics are what will guide providers through most interactions, and what should be focused on most, accompanied by the use of a translator. In a busy clinic, it is beneficial to know introductions and basic instructions for the exam, with findings and next steps/questions done through interpreter services. Further use of the terminology, and more complicated words/sentences can be learned with time and practice.

Note: The translations used here are formal, using su/usted, rather than tu. This tense conveys respect and is safe to use with all Hispanic patients. In Ophthalmology we generally work with an older population, many of which would prefer and appreciate being spoken to in this way. Many younger to middle-aged patients and especially children, would not need this formality. It becomes confusing to switch between formal/informal without having a dedicated grammar lesson, so it is best to learn one way and stick with it and focus most on learning the vocabulary.

Anatomy

Introductions

Patient Care

Sentences

Section 2 – Surgery:

This section aims to extend the translation into the OR, with a mix of the basics and more advanced translation. Much of the terminology used in clinic can be used here, with some operating room specifics.

Surgery

Section 3 – Specialty Specific:

This section aims to dive deeper into the terminology associated with specific specialties. As with some of the lesser-known anatomy, many of these terms may be new to patients and might require further explanation beyond the basic translation. This will be similar to a typical patient interaction in English where a patient may not understand the complexities of the diagnosis. For example, a central retinal vein occlusion may be described as a blockage of one of the veins in the back part of the eye. While easy to explain in English, it becomes difficult to provide the direct translation and provide a more simplified explanation in Spanish. For this reason, the provider should focus most on the terminology relevant to their day-to-day flow.

Pediatrics

Retina

Glaucoma

Cornea

Anterior/Posterior Chamber

Oculoplastics

Neuro-ophthalmology

Summary of the Case:

This guide is intended to provide a foundation from which to build on and improve the Spanish of anyone in the field of eye care. From front desk staff to ophthalmic technicians and physicians, anyone in the field can make a difference in the lives of non-English speaking patients by understanding some of their language. In the same way it is isolating to be vacationing in a foreign country and not fully understanding the language, it is equally isolating for patients struggling to understand their physician and healthcare team, but in their case, it is regarding one of the most important senses they have. This is not a complete guide encompassing all possible terms and descriptions but does cover a large portion and allows a comprehensive understanding of the basics. In the end, the goal of this guide and the goal of healthcare providers is to improve patient care in any way possible, in this case through language. By understanding the basics and having a familiarity with more complex translations, it will allow for better patient experiences and even better provider experiences. Further review and study can be done with the various resources cited in this article and the immense amount of resources available online and at your own institutions.

References:

1. Morales LS, Varma R, Paz SH, Lai MY, Mazhar K, Andersen RM, Azen SP; Los Angeles Latino Eye Study Group. Self-reported use of eye care among Latinos: the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study. Ophthalmology. 2010 Feb;117(2):207-15.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2009.07.015. PMID: 20018380; PMCID: PMC2835414.
2. Barsegian A, Kotlyar B, Lee J, Salifu MO, McFarlane SI. Diabetic Retinopathy: Focus on Minority Populations. Int J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2017;3(1):034-45. doi: 10.17352/ijcem.000027. Epub 2017 Nov 11. PMID: 29756128; PMCID: PMC5945200.
3. Halawa OA, Jin Q, Pasquale LR, Kang JH, Lorch AC, Sobrin L, Miller JW, Li Y, Eslami M, Wang M, Zebardast N, Elze T. Race and Ethnicity Differences in Disease Severity and Visual Field Progression Among Glaucoma Patients. Am J Ophthalmol. 2022 Oct;242:69-76. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2022.05.023. Epub 2022 May 30. PMID: 35654121; PMCID: PMC9842097.
4. Al Shamsi H, Almutairi AG, Al Mashrafi S, Al Kalbani T. Implications of Language Barriers for Healthcare: A Systematic Review. Oman Med J. 2020 Apr 30;35(2):e122. doi: 10.5001/omj.2020.40. PMID: 32411417; PMCID: PMC7201401.
5. Mudie, L.I., Patnaik, J.L., Gill, Z. et al. Disparities in eye clinic patient encounters among patients requiring language interpreter services. BMC Ophthalmol 23, 82 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-022-02756-6
6. Squires A. Strategies for overcoming language barriers in healthcare. Nurs Manage. 2018 Apr;49(4):20-27. doi: 10.1097/01.NUMA.0000531166.24481.15. PMID: 29528894; PMCID: PMC8697718.
7. Jai G Parekh, Rudrajit Sinha, Swati Parekh; Digital Media Effects in Eye Care: Overcoming Language Barriers to Improve Patient Education and Compliance. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2020;61(7):3074.
8. Prospero Ponce, C., Winters, J., Porter, M., & Nguyen Burkat, C. (2023, August 24). A brief guide to Spanish in ophthalmology. EyeWiki. https://eyewiki.aao.org/A_Brief_Guide_to_Spanish_in_Ophthalmology
9. Palileo, B. M. (2019, August 25). Medical Spanish for ophthalmology – A basic survival guide. EyeGuru. https://eyeguru.org/blog/spanish-guide/
10. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). National Eye Institute. https://www.nei.nih.gov/
11. The Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists. (2022). La Degeneración macular relacionada con la edad síntomas coroides – ASRS. ASRS.org. https://www.asrs.org/content/documents/fact-sheet-16-sp-amd-2022_1_asrs.pdf
12. Kwan M, Jeemi Z, Norman R, Dantas JAR. Professional Interpreter Services and the Impact on Hospital Care Outcomes: An Integrative Review of Literature. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Mar 15;20(6):5165. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20065165. PMID: 36982073; PMCID: PMC10048935.

Faculty Approval by: Dr. Griffin Jardine

Copyright statement: Ivan Cardenas, ©2023. For further information regarding the rights to this collection, please visit: http://morancore.utah.edu/terms-of-use/