July 2022 - Moorfields Eye Hospitals UAE

This blog has been authored by Dr. Salman Waqar, Consultant Ophthalmologist in Cataract and Glaucoma Surgery, who was the first in Dubai to insert the PAUL Implants in adults and children.

Glaucoma affects a significant percentage of the population worldwide, and the risk increases with age. The non-surgical treatment options available for most patients are medications to reduce pressure in the eye and laser trabeculoplasty, which targets the drainage angle of the eye.

However, for many patients with advanced glaucoma or complex secondary glaucoma, medications and laser treatments alone are not sufficient to control eye pressure and preserve vision.

In these circumstances, aqueous tube shunts (also known as aqueous shunt devices or glaucoma drainage devices) have a much broader range of efficacy even in patients with the highest risk.

The devices in common use are the Ahmed Valve and the Baerveldt Tube.

Now, at Moorfields Eye Hospitals UAE, we also offer surgery with the latest device known as the PAUL implant.

What is the PAUL implant?

The PAUL implant is the latest generation of aqueous shunt devices. It has been designed to optimize efficacy with a higher safety profile. It is composed of a soft tube that is inserted into the eye and drains away excess fluid thereby controlling the eye pressure. The diameter of this tube is less than half a millimeter and this prevents complications such as low pressure or corneal damage. The tube is connected to a thin and soft end-plate which is placed under the skin of the eye. This end-plate is very comfortable and causes no erosion or discomfort. It also does not degrade and lasts for the duration of the patient’s lifetime.

How does it work?

Glaucoma is most commonly associated with a build-up of fluid pressure inside the eye. This build-up of fluid pressure is caused by partial blockage of the natural drainage channel of the eye. This pressure can damage the optic nerve which carries images from the eye to the brain affecting your vision. This fluid produced inside your eye is called aqueous humour, which is different from your tears. The PAUL implant drains fluid from inside the eye to an end-plate on the outside, which is placed under a thin skin-like membrane covering the white of the eye called the conjunctiva. The fluid is then absorbed into the bloodstream.

What are the benefits?

The PAUL implant will lower your eye pressure and prevent further damage to the optic nerve caused by eye pressure (intraocular pressure). Its design ensures less chance of complications such as low IOP (hypotony), corneal damage and tube erosion, and a more predictable eye pressure control from the very first day after the surgery.

Are there any alternatives?

The closest alternatives to the PAUL implant are the traditional aqueous shunt implants such as the Baerveldt or Ahmed Implants. We aim to always individualise treatment options to your unique needs and will suggest the PAUL implant to you only if we feel it offers the best chance of controlling your eye pressure compared to other techniques.

Dubau, United Arab Emirates, 6th July 2022 Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai has earned Joint Commission International’s (JCI) Gold Seal of Approval® for Ambulatory Care Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its internationally-recognised standards.

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai underwent a rigorous on-site survey in June of 2022. During the survey, a Joint Commission International expert surveyor evaluated compliance with ambulatory care standards related to a variety of areas, including the International Patient Safety Goals, patient assessment and care, anaesthesia and surgical care, medication management, patient and family education, quality improvement, infection prevention and control, governance and leadership, facility management, staff qualifications and education, and information management.

“To receive accreditation from Joint Commission International is a true testament to our vision to be the finest eye hospital in the region and our mission to continuously operate to the highest clinical standards,” noted Elhadi Hassan, Managing Director of Moorfields Eye Hospitals UAE. “Employees from across the organisation worked together to implement approaches and strategies to improve all areas of quality and the outcome is a testament to the hard work of every individual in the organization, and one that we are proud of.”

Dr. Ammar Safar, Medical Director, noted: “I was thrilled to see the decision by the Joint Commission International awarding Moorfield’s Eye Hospital Dubai its seal of approval without any findings. This is a truly humbling testament of the superb quality service provided at Moorfields by a world-renowned international quality organisation. This JCI certification has certainly raised the bar for us to continue our work and affirm our commitment to the highest standard of patient safety and outstanding outcomes.”

Maha Aboughali, Business Development and Marketing Director, added: “We are proud of the standards of excellence adopted by Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, which fall directly in line with Vision 2021 of the UAE, to be at the forefront in providing healthcare of the highest international standards for citizens and residents. Receiving accreditation from the Joint Commission International is one of our many goals and aspirations in our quest to solidify our position as a world leading provider of eye care in the region.”