Restoring sight to a girl who lost her sight 10 years ago.

A 19-year-old girl who lost vision in her right eye after an episode of inflammation more than 10 years ago has had her sight restored by surgery at Saigon Eye General Hospital.

The girl, from Ca Mau province, had previously received medication and eye drops from a local doctor to treat conjunctivitis, but her vision subsequently deteriorated, making it difficult for her to see clearly. For the past 10 years, she lacked the means to receive treatment, enduring many difficulties and inconveniences in her studies and daily life. This is the first time she has come to Ho Chi Minh City for examination.

On January 1st, Dr. Dao Cao Nhat Dan from Saigon Eye General Hospital stated that when the patient arrived at the hospital, they could only count how many fingers the technician was raising at a distance of 0.5 meters. The doctor diagnosed the patient with chronic uveitis and loss of the lens nucleus. This is a very rare complication of uveitis, which can cause severe vision loss.

Although the diagnosis was difficult, treatment was still possible because the patient's optic nerve and retina were in very good condition, and the chances of eye recovery were high, said Dr. Nguyen Tran Quoc Hoang, director of the hospital, who performed the artificial lens implantation surgery.

Doctor Nguyen Tran Quoc Hoang (on the left) performs surgery on a patient. Photo: Provided by the hospital. — Doctor Nguyen Tran Quoc Hoang (on the left) performs surgery on a patient. Photo: *Provided by the hospital.*

After the surgery, the patient's vision improved to 7/10 in the right eye, and the bothersome blurred vision symptoms disappeared. "I had completely lost hope of recovering my eyesight, never thinking I could see everything clearly now, making daily life so much easier," the patient said.

According to Dr. Dan, uveitis is an eye disease that can be caused by many factors such as infection, trauma... or autoimmune disorders (the body has antibodies against the uvea). The disease is easily confused with conjunctivitis (pink eye) because it has similar symptoms such as redness, sensitivity to light, tearing, and blurred vision.

However, uveitis has some distinct characteristics such as redness of the conjunctiva around the iris (also called limbal congestion), eye pain, possibly accompanied by increased intraocular pressure, and it does not spread in epidemics like conjunctivitis.

The patient's vision has recovered after surgery. Photo: Provided by the hospital. — The patient's vision has recovered after surgery. Photo: *Provided by the hospital.*

Autoimmune uveitis cannot be prevented. If caused by a parasitic infection, it can be prevented by maintaining good hygiene, avoiding washing the face and eyes with contaminated water, and protecting the eyes with glasses when exposed to smoky or dusty environments.

If detected early, the disease can be cured with medication, leaving few sequelae. If the golden period is missed, the disease can cause serious problems not only related to vision but also affecting overall health.

Doctors advise that when the eyes show any unusual signs, a specialist should be consulted for timely diagnosis and treatment. Do not self-treat at home without guidance from a doctor.

Le Phuong

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