Ophthalmology

The Iris Network is able to treat all ophthalmological disorders, from general consultations to the most challenging problems. From screening to care, the Iris Network ensures that the services patients receive offer comfort, ease and efficiency for the most commonly encountered disorders.

Ophthalmological care is divided between the Brugmann-Horta, QFCUH, César de Paepe, Brugmann-Paul Brien and Saint-Pierre sites and the four Iris Sud Hospital sites (Joseph Bracops, Molière Longchamp, Etterbeek-Ixelles, Etterbeek-Baron Lambert).

All eye problems are diagnosed and treated at these centres:

• Cataracts (clouding of the lens), as out-patient surgery, under local anaesthesia (phacoemulsification). Retinal vascular disorders such as diabetic retinopathy and central venous thrombosis. The Network offers the most advanced technical examinations as well as eye treatments ranging from laser intraocular injections to complex endocular operations. 
• Glaucoma, for which the Network offers early screening and appropriate care aimed at preventing or reducing the sometimes very serious complications of this disorder.
• Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the leading cause of blindness among Belgium’s elderly population); there have been considerable advances in patient treatment for this condition, particularly in the Iris Network.
• Inflammatory eye disease: within Iris, the often complex treatment for this condition benefits from a multidisciplinary approach.

While providing quality, local-based medical care, the Iris Network has, over the course of the years, also developed reference-level services in ophthalmology. Through the pooling of important technical resources, the specialist ophthalmological clinics at CHU Saint-Pierre and CHU Brugmann are at the cutting edge of advances in the diagnosis and treatment of all eye disorders. These departments are reference centres for those disorders that ophthalmologists, both in Belgium and in neighbouring countries, are unable to treat due to a lack of adequate resources and expertise.
The technology and resources currently found in the Iris Network are also used to support the training of doctors, along with university-based clinical and scientific research.

Refractive surgery

This technique is used to correct eye refraction defects and thus avoid the need to wear glasses or contact lenses. A number of Iris Network doctors offer patients this type of surgery.

Paediatric ophthalmology

Iris Network’s teams are well equipped to respond to specific ophthalmological problems that affect children and young adults. The University Children’s Hospital specialises in genetic ophthalmology and has recruited both Belgian and foreign specialists in this field; it also treats congenital cataracts and glaucoma. In the field of strabismus (eye alignment problems), the Iris Network also offers integrated care. The Network excels too in the treatment of low vision (rehabilitation and visual support techniques under the INAMI agreement (Horus)) for both children and adults.

"Basse vision"

Horus, a rehabilitation centre specialising in vision problems and low vision in particular, is the product of collaboration between CHU Brugmann, QFCUH and the Braille League. 

Through the Horus Centre, the Iris Network is able to offer a unique initiative. Horus aims to help patients with vision problems to live as independently as possible.

To fulfil this objective, Horus is able to count on the skills of a multidisciplinary team including ophthalmological doctors specialising in low vision rehabilitation, social workers, orthoptists, occupational therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, psychomotor therapists and psychologists.