2023-10-21 15:42:00
By taking a glaucoma screening test at the age of 60, André saved his sight. Twenty years later, this former teacher can see with his own eyes. “I was very lucky, at the time I didn’t understand why my doctor asked me to go and do this test,” he says. I listened to him and I thank him because I was taken care of quickly, I didn’t think I had glaucoma since I had no symptoms”.
Thanks to a glaucoma screening test performed at the age of 60, André’s eyesight and life were saved. ©Jean Luc Flemal
After a non-invasive laser operation, he now has to go to the Saint-Luc clinics once every six months to check the evolution of his eye pressure. Second cause of blindness in the world, this eye disease associated with the progressive destruction of the optic nerve, most often caused by too much pressure inside the eye, affects 4% of the population after 40 years of age. . This Thursday, André had a routine appointment with Dr. Sayeh Pourjavan, head of the glaucoma clinic at the Saint-Luc university clinics and who has been following him for almost 20 years.
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People don’t realize the importance of screening, we need to raise more awareness.”
“He had no symptoms but he had the good instinct to carry out a screening test,” explains Dr Pourjavan. The problem is that it is often an invisible illness without symptoms; moreover, it is estimated that half of patients in Belgium are unaware of it. And unfortunately, by the time it appears, it is already too late and loss of sight is often inevitable. In advanced stages, the patient may see blurred, lose contrast and feel as if there is a veil over the eyes. Today, laser treatment is offered, which makes it possible to slightly enlarge the tension evacuation channels, which become more rigid with age. If that doesn’t work, we offer drops to put in the eye every day”.
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In the field of prevention, Dr. Pourjavan is working hard to raise awareness among all audiences about screening. In the corridors of Saint-Luc, his research to improve care is displayed on the walls. A pilot project aimed at making the monitoring of glaucoma patients more effective is currently being carried out.
Treatment expected in the coming years
“When we realize it too late, it is a tragedy for the lives of patients, especially young people,” she emphasizes. This is why it is called Alzheimer’s of the eye. The problem is that the later the disease is detected, the more complex the treatment. People don’t realize the importance of screening, we need to raise more awareness in Belgium. We are hopeful of having an effective treatment one day but the research is very expensive”.
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I have an exciting job that I don’t plan to stop despite the progression of the disease.”
Concretely, glaucoma screening is carried out by measuring intraocular pressure, and a microscopic examination of the condition of the optic nerve during a simple consultation with your ophthalmologist. The examination is painless, lasts only a few seconds and does not prevent you from resuming your activities afterwards. Ophthalmologists advise doing it from the age of 40. Among the risk factors, we find in particular high intraocular pressure, a family history of glaucoma, very high myopia, increasing age as well as sub-Saharan origins.
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Suffering from juvenile glaucoma discovered at the age of 26, Cédric goes to the Saint-Luc clinic every three months to check his eye pressure. “You don’t really feel it happening, I started to see less and less and I told myself that it was linked to my pair of glasses, that I had to change,” says this Belgian-Brazilian from the top of his 32 years old. When I took the test, I was quickly made to understand that it wasn’t just that. I was then treated for 4 years for my left eye. Not knowing my parents, I don’t know if there is a case in my family so it was a surprise for me”.
Cédric discovered he suffered from glaucoma at the age of 26. ©Jean Luc Flemal
Un handicap invisible
An unpleasant surprise which became debilitating on a daily basis but which did not discourage this young teacher who works in Ganshoren. Despite increasingly blurred vision and a handicap invisible to society, Cédric is not the type to let himself be defeated and is one of those people who gives you a lesson in self-sacrifice and questioning.
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“I have a fascinating job that I don’t intend to stop despite the progression of the disease,” he explains. I met completely blind teachers who continued their work, it’s reassuring and motivating and it gives me strength for the future. Currently, I have been able to adapt my practice, I have access to computers adapted for my courses, I have asked my management for different supports to be less impacted. I always write on the board but I have to stand very close to be able to read what I write and I explain to the children why I see less well without going into detail. I tell them that I can’t see them from afar, for example I have difficulty telling them apart when they raise their hands”.
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On a social level, this adopted Brussels resident also had to reorganize his daily life. “When I go to the bar, people don’t say that I have a vision problem, it’s an invisible handicap. I have developed my proprioception well and I am not yet blind, I have a natural blur in my vision. On the other hand, as a great tennis enthusiast, I had to mourn this practice, the same for cycling. It’s a life to rebuild.”
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