Dr. Jérôme C. VRYGHEM

Education

• 1969 -1975: Latin-Sciences, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe College, Tienen
• 1975 -1982: Medical Studies, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven,
• 30-06-82: Doctor in Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics, with honours
• 1982-1986: Specialisation in Ophthalmology
• 1982-1984, 1985-1986: Universitair Ziekenhuis St.-Rafaël, Leuven
  (Dir.: Prof. Dr. L. Missotten)
• 1984-1985: Academisch Ziekenhuis, Leiden, The Netherlands
  (Dir.: Prof. Dr. J. A. Oosterhuis)
• 31-07-86: Ophthalmologist
• 1987-1988: Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp
  Degree in Tropical Medicine, with honours

Professional experience

1986-1990: Consultant ophthalmologist at the Department of Ophthalmology (11/11), U.Z. St.-Rafaël Leuven, Dir.: Prof. Dr. L. Missotten. Specialisation in cataract and retinal detachment surgery.
1990-1995: Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Department of Ophthalmology (1/11), U.Z. St.-Rafaël Leuven, Dir.: Prof. Dr. L. Missotten.
1/10/89- 1/10/2000 : Practice in the Centre Médicis (1/11) Avenue de Tervueren 251, 1150 Brussels
1/1/90- : Ophthalmologist in the Clinique St. -Jean, Brussels (5/11), Chief of the Ophthalmology department since 5/96.
1/5/89- : Private Practice: Up to 1/1/94: 9 Avenue Bel-Air, 1180 Brussels. This practice has been moved to: 191/5 Avenue de Tervueren , 1150 Brussels. As of 21/2/2001 this practice has been moved once more to: 12-16 Boulevard St-Michel , 1150 Brussels (5/11)
1/1/93- : "Maître de stage", affiliated to the K.U. Leuven: training of 3rd or 4th year residents in the Ophthalmology department of the Clinique St-Jean: actually 1 resident full-time every 6 months.

Considerable surgical experience

Phaco-emulsification with lensimplantation under topical anesthesia, Extracapsular cataract extractions, Intracapsular cataract extractions, Trabeculectomies, Retinal detachment operations (Schepens' Procedure), Squint operations, Penetrating keratoplasties, Dacryocystorhinostomies, Radial Keratotomies (1989), Phakic implants (1992), Photorefractive Keratectomy (1995) and Lasik (1996). Currently (2004) over 2000 procedures a year.
Considerable experience with laser treatment (Argon, YAG) and Fluo-angiography.

Dr. Vryghem was the first eye doctor in Belgium to introduce 2 new techniques in corneal surgery. In December 2005 he started off with Ultra-Violet Crosslinking, a method that aims to stabilise keratoconus. In June 2006, he introduced Descemet Stripping and Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK), a technique designed to avoid a full cornea transplantation (Penetrating Keratoplasty) for those patients who don't see anymore because of cornea oedema.

Since June 2006 Dr. Vryghem had acquired experience in FemtoLASIK treatments. In June 2007 Brussels Eye Doctors is the first ophtalmological practice in Belgium that has purchased a Femtosecond Laser of the latest generation, a Ziemer LDV, to perfrom FemtoLASIK treatments for the surgical correction of refractive errors on a safer and more predicable way.

Tropical ophthalmological experience

3 missions in Zaïre, 1 mission in Ethiopia with Médecins sans Frontières, 1 mission in Bénin, 1 mission in Haïti. Chargé de cours on "Tropical and geographical ophthalmology" at the Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp (1988-1989). Publication of the course in French and Dutch.
Founder and Chairman of "Oog voor de Tropen-Oeil sur les Tropiques"(since 1988), an organisation that elaborates and implements ophthalmological projects in developing countries.

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

VIDEOS

ORGANISATION OF SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS OR SESSIONS

Professional memberships

• BOG-SBO (Belgian Society of Ophthalmology): Member since 1986, member of the Board between 1992 and 1996.
• Board Member B.S.C.R.S. ( Belgian Societies of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons)                                        
• Vice-President of B.S.C.R.S since February 2010
• SOBEVECO: Member since 1988, Member of the Board since 1993
• Vice-President since 1995.
• American Academy of Ophthalmology (1992)
• Nederlands Oogheelkundig Gezelschap (1986)
• European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (1992)
• American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (1996)
• International Society of Refractive Surgery (1998)
• SAFIR (2003)

Language skills

French: mother tongue
Dutch: excellent in speaking and writing
English: good in speaking and writing
German:good in speaking and writing