Retinitis Pigmentosa Treatment | Moorfields Eye Hospitals UAE

About

It is the most common form of inherited retinal dystrophies and can be inherited as autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, or X-linked trait. It is caused by genetic variants in genes coding for proteins which are important for the structure and/or function of the rod photoreceptors (which are responsible for night vision) causing night blindness, with eventual constriction of the visual field as the cone photoreceptors become affected. Some forms of retinitis pigmentosa can be associated with hearing loss, kidney disease, or learning difficulties. Early identification of these conditions allows for appropriate investigation.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is based on clinical history and examination, and detailed retinal imaging. There are more than 100 genes associated with retinitis pigmentosa. The clinical features and the mode of inheritance can guide the genetic testing, performed by analysing the DNA extracted from a blood sample from the patient. In about 50-60% of the cases, genetic testing reveals the causative gene.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of RP include visual problems at dusk or in poor light, so-called night blindness, and also a gradual reduction in the peripheral field of vision, loss of the outer edges of vision (‘side vision’), resulting in a tendency to miss things or trip over things. At an early stage the central vision (‘straight-ahead and reading vision’) is unaffected. As the outer edges of the field of vision gradually disappear, the RP sufferer is left with the condition commonly referred to as “tunnel vision”.

Treatment for retinitis pigmentosa is largely supportive. Gene therapy is available for only one rare form of retinitis pigmentosa caused by the gene RPE65. Genetic counselling is also offered to the affected patients and their families.

Retinitis Pigmentosa Specialists

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Dubai

Dr. Rola Ba-Abbad

Visiting Consultant Ophthalmologist Specialised in Genetic Eye Diseases and Medical Retin

Rola Ba-Abbad is a Consultant Ophthalmologist in genetic eye disease, including inherited retinal disorders for adults and children, and medical retina at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai in Dubai Healthcare City. She holds a PhD from University College London, 2018, and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow since 2011. She earned her bachelor’s degree (MBBS) in Medicine and Surgery from King Saud University and successfully completed her specialist training at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital and affiliated hospitals in Riyadh in 2006. She has more than 10 years of regional and international experience in medical retina, electrophysiology and inherited retinal disorders in countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and Canada. In her career, she has practised in leading medical institutions such as Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, and King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital. She has undertaken research in inherited retinal disorders, visual neuroscience-clinical psychophysics, and electrophysiology of vision and has published several research papers on retinal and corneal disorders in leading journals such as Ophthalmology and Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, among others. She is a member of The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and is the recipient of the Foundation Fighting Blindness: Diana Davis Spencer Clinical Research Fellowship Award in 2018.

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Dr. Razek Coussa

Visiting Consultant Ophthalmologist in Adult and Paediatric vitreoretinal diseases & surgery, inherited retinal diseases and retinal gene therapy

Dr. Razek Coussa is a visiting consultant Ophthalmologist specialising in adult and paediatric vitreoretinal diseases and surgery, inherited retinal diseases and retinal gene therapy at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai in Dubai Healthcare City. Dr. Razek academic journey started at McGill University (Montreal, Canada), where he graduated with a Bachelor in Chemical Engineering (Dean’s Honours list) in 2007, followed by a Masters in Biomedical Engineering in 2008. After obtaining a Masters in Philosophy in Bioscience Enterprise from the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom 2009), he returned to McGill University, where He completed his training in Medicine (2009-2013), followed by a post-graduate residency in Ophthalmology (2013-2018). After which he successfully obtained the Canadian Royal College certification in Ophthalmology and the American Board of Ophthalmology certification. Dr. Razek then completed four years of fellowship training, developing comprehensive clinical, surgical, and research expertise in multiple retina-related sub-specialities. His training included a one-year fellowship in Paediatric Ophthalmology and Inherited Retinal Diseases at the prestigious Cole Eye Institute of the Cleveland Clinic (2018-2019), advanced training in Medical Retina and Molecular Ophthalmology at the world-renowned Department of Ophthalmology of the University of Iowa (2019-2020), and extensive training in Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery at Iowa (2020-2022). Dr. Razek brings over 10 years of regional/international experience in medical and surgical vitreoretinal diseases, and inherited retinal diseases, having worked in countries including the United States and Canada. This global perspective enriches his approach to patient care and research. In his career, he has practised in leading medical institutions such as the University of Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa, USA), Cole Eye Institute of the Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, Ohio, USA), The Dean McGee Eye Institute (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA) and McGill University Health Center (Montreal, Quebec, Canada). Dr. Razek has undertaken research in surgical and inherited retinal diseases and inherited retinal diseases and has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on diabetic retinopathy, vitreomacular traction, Choroideremia and Stargardt disease, among others. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS), the International Society for Genetic Eye Diseases and Retinoblastoma (ISGEDR), and a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).

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