Dr. Ammar Safar

The retina, a crucial layer of tissue at the back of the eye, is vital for capturing images and sending them to the brain. It can be affected by various conditions, including diabetic eye diseases, age-related macular degeneration, and retinal detachment.

About Cataracts

A cataract is a condition where the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy, reducing the amount of light that reaches the retina. This clouding can result in blurred or hazy vision and, in more severe cases, lead to vision impairment or loss of sight. People with cataracts often find that colours appear less vibrant, and everyday activities like reading, driving, or recognising faces become more difficult. Cataracts typically develop slowly over time, and the early stages might not be noticeable until vision problems begin to interfere with daily life.

Aviation ophthalmology focuses on the visual requirements and eye health of aviation professionals. Aviation ophthalmologists assess vision, diagnose conditions, and ensure aviation professionals maintain optimal visual performance to meet stringent safety requirements

About Retinal Detachment Surgery

Retinal detachment is a condition in which the thin lining at the back of the eye (the retina) begins to come away and separate itself from the underlying wall of the eye, which contains blood vessels that supply it with vital oxygen and nutrients.

If not treated promptly, retinal detachment will lead to blindness in the affected eye.

A retinal detachment is usually caused by a tear in the retina, and this is termed a Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Other types include traction retinal detachment, usually seen in advanced diabetic retinopathy, and Exudative retinal detachment (usually seen in people with inflammation). Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment needs urgent surgery in most cases.

About

Diabetic maculopathy is a condition that occurs when the macula, the part of the eye which provides us with our central vision is damaged. The macula is responsible for fine vision (reading, writing, watching television, and recognising faces). Patients with diabetes may develop macular oedema (swelling of the retina) due to leaking of fluid from blood vessels. This causes the vision to become blurred.

About Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a serious complication of long-term uncontrolled diabetes resulting from persistently high blood sugar levels over the years. This condition affects the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, impairing its ability to transmit clear images to the brain through the optic nerve.

At Moorfields Eye Hospitals, our retina specialists in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have extensive subspecialty training in diagnosing and treating diabetic retinopathy. Using the latest retinal imaging and advanced treatment approaches, they provide tailored care to slow disease progression, protect sight, and help patients maintain long-term eye health and quality of life.

About Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

The central part of the retina (at the back of the eye) is called the macula and it has an important function as it controls the quality and sharpness of the central part of our vision.

Macular degeneration is a condition that affects the macula resulting in distortion or sometimes loss of central vision (not the peripheral vision) and this can cause problems, when it comes to everyday tasks such as reading and driving.

The good news is that the deterioration of vision usually happens quite slowly.

However, there are two types of macular degeneration – ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ – and what is known as the ‘wet’ form results in a sudden loss of central vision, which is a medical emergency and urgent treatment is needed.

Macula

The macula is a small, extremely important area at the centre of the retina, the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye and is responsible for seeing fine details clearly. With AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration), you lose the ability to see fine details and lose the ability to distinguish details. AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration) affects only the central vision. Side and peripheral vision usually remains normal.  For example, people with AMD gradually lose the ability to recognise people’s faces.

About Macular Hole Surgery

If you think of your eye as a camera, the retina is like the photographic film. It is a very thin layer of tissue, which is sensitive to the image focused on it, sending the information to the brain.

At the very centre of the retina is the macula. This is a very special area of the retina, which we use for reading and recognising complex shapes. Sometimes, a hole forms in the macula, which prevents it from working normally.  This affects your vision, particularly for reading and other visually demanding tasks, but it does not cause total blindness.

 

About Posterior Vitreous Detachment

Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) is a common degenerative change which affects one or both eyes in many people after middle age. It may present earlier in short-sighted patients or those who have sustained trauma to the eyes.

Thickening of the jelly casts shadows on the retina and is seen as floating shapes. These black ‘floaters’ in your vision move with the eye and then settle as the eye rests. These are often described by patients as a “cobweb” or “insects”.

You may also notice flashing lights, like little flickers in the outer periphery. Usually, these do not indicate a problem; however, it is important to have the eye thoroughly checked, as a retinal tear or retinal detachment may occasionally occur.

About Retinal Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment that uses a combination of a “cold” laser and a special light-sensitive dye (Verteporfin). This is injected into the bloodstream to target abnormally leaking blood vessels in the retina (nerve tissue lining at the back of the eye which detects light and allows us to see) or the layer below the retina (choroid). PDT is used to treat some specific forms of wet macular degeneration and a disease called ‘Central Serous Retinopathy’ (CSR).

About Retinal Vein Occlusion

Blocking of the retinal vein, which reduces vision, is known as Retinal Vein Occlusion. This results in the accumulation of blood (retinal haemorrhages) and fluid (macular oedema) in the retina and leads to a drop in visual acuity (clarity of vision).

A cataract is a condition in which the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy, hindering the transmission of light rays to the retina. This leads to blurred, hazy vision or, in severe instances, loss of sight.