Dr. Lucca Ortolan Hansen M.D. Ph.D.

Dr. Hansen is the founder and clinical director of Ortolan Oftalmologia and the primary attending physician for English-language consultations at the clinic. Patients travelling from abroad and English-speaking residents in São Paulo are seen personally by Dr. Hansen — no translator needed. He holds the Grade A Cambridge English CPE certification (native-equivalent proficiency) and completed the Basic Science Course in Ophthalmology at Columbia University, New York — credentials that allow him to care for international patients with the same ease as he does in Portuguese.

Dr. Hansen regularly attends to global patients travelling to São Paulo for ophthalmic urgencies, specialist diagnostic exams, elective surgery, second opinions, and follow-up of conditions managed abroad. Whether you are visiting Brazil for a short trip, living in the city temporarily, or seeking high-quality care at Brazilian prices, you can expect the same rigorous, USP-trained ophthalmology offered to local patients — in fluent English.

Academic credentials

• M.D. in Medicine — Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas (PUC-Campinas)
• Ph.D. in Ophthalmology — University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil's top-ranked medical school
• Cataract Surgery Fellowship — Hospital das Clínicas (USP)
• Refractive Surgery Fellowship — USP
• Cornea & External Eye Disease Fellowship — USP
• Basic Science Course in Ophthalmology — Columbia University, New York
• Grade A CPE Certification — Cambridge University (native-equivalent English)

Areas of subspecialty

• Refractive Surgery — LASIK, PRK, SMILE, phakic IOL (ICL) for high myopia
• Cataract Surgery — premium IOL planning (EDOF, trifocal, toric), complex cases
• Cornea & External Eye Disease — keratoconus, dry eye, corneal transplant planning
• Corneal Crosslinking (CXL) — published researcher on CXL cost-effectiveness in public healthcare

Published research

Dr. Hansen is the first author of the landmark Brazilian study on the cost-effectiveness of corneal crosslinking for progressive keratoconus, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2024 (21(12), 1569). The study — a lifetime Markov microsimulation of 10,000 eyes — demonstrated an ICER of USD 58.26 per quality-adjusted life year gained, with a mean of 968.8 corneal transplants avoided per 10,000 eyes treated. Google Scholar: 73 citations, h-index 6.

Common reasons global patients travel to São Paulo for Dr. Ortolan

• Urgencies — red eye, sudden vision loss, trauma, post-surgical complications while travelling
• Diagnostic exams — corneal tomography, OCT, visual field, biometry and more, available same-day
• Elective surgery — refractive (LASIK/PRK/SMILE/phakic IOL), cataract with premium IOLs, keratoconus treatments
• Second opinions — independent review of diagnosis and treatment plans from other clinics or countries
• Follow-up of conditions already diagnosed abroad — glaucoma, keratoconus, dry eye, retinal disease
• Routine eye exams for expatriates and long-term visitors living in São Paulo

What to expect as an international patient

• Personal English-language consultations — no translator needed
• Full diagnostic workup typically available in a single same-day visit
• Transparent written and verbal follow-up by WhatsApp or email
• Coordination with the patient's home ophthalmologist when appropriate
• USP-trained anesthesiology and hospital partners for surgical cases
• Pinheiros location — near Faria Lima station (5 min from major hotels), with parking