Six months ago, the American University of Beirut Center witnessed a remarkable procedure, the first of its type in Lebanon, in which a trained medical team successfully executed a medical surgery that spared the girl’s eye from blindness.
One of the 10 malignancies that harm youngsters is a tumor that damages retinal cells in the five-year-old girl. The most common symptoms include white in the pupil (leukocoria), redness, squinting, and eye pain. As a result, the doctor must ensure that the light coming from the pupil is red rather than white throughout the inspection
The American University Center has a special program for eye cancer in children
The American University Center offers a unique programme for children with eye cancer. Dr. Wajeha Khair, an eye oncologist, tells “Al-Nahar” that “chemotherapy is employed in cases of eye cancer, in addition to the laser to burn tumours that impair the network.”
Chemotherapy, laser treatments, and even chemical injections into the eye may not be effective, and our options become limited: We began radiation, which was successful when combined with the placement of a “metallic implant” in the eye.
Succeeded in saving the girl’s eye from tumors and blindness
This golden implant was used to treat other tumours in older persons in Lebanon, but not for this sort of tumour or at this age.
Dr. Khair made the following observation: “This medical technique necessitates a high level of precision, efficiency, and time to determine the position of the tumour and the amount of radiation that must be delivered, among other things.
In addition, the ministry must approve the importation of these rays from the United States for use in surgery.”Despite the long wait and preparations, we were able to save the girl’s eye from cancer and blindness, which is the foundation.”
