Retinal Photodynamic Therapy | Moorfields Eye Hospitals UAE

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 blood stream to target abnormal 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 in the treatment of some specific forms of wet macular degeneration and a disease called ‘Central Serous Retinopathy’ (CSR).

Age Related Macular Degeneration

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. Read More

Central Serous Retinopathy

Central serous retinopathy (CSR) is a condition that affects the retina- the light sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye.

Central serous chorio-retinopathy (CSCR), refers to a collection of fluid under the retina. This is caused by a disturbance in the pumping action of special cells called RPE cells (retinal pigment epithelial cells) and/or abnormalities in the vascular (blood vessel) layer, known as choroid. RPE cell layer and blood vessel layer (choroid) line the outer surface of retina and both layers function to keep the retina healthy. This dysfunction results in fluid leakage under the retina in a bubble-like swelling called central serous chorio-retinopathy (CSCR).

The combination of laser light and light-sensitive dye helps to seal off the leaking area which then reduces leakage in the retina which will either stabilise the vision (stop it getting worse) or may even improve the vision. For patients with chronic (lasting more than 4 months) Central Serous Retinopathy (CSR) there are no other proven alternative treatments apart from PDT in cases where the disease does not settle by itself within the first few months. Without this treatment there would be a risk of the leak in the retina worsening causing further damage to the eyesight. For patients with wet macular degeneration this treatment is now reserved for patients who are unable to have the recommended first line treatment of injections of drugs into the eyeball (e.g. allergy to the drug or medical reason making it difficult for patients to attend for injection treatment) or cases where there is a specific type of wet macular degeneration where combination treatment is recommended (injections into the eyeball plus PDT treatment).

Retinal Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) Specialists

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Dubai
Abu Dhabi

Dr. Ammar Safar

Chief Medical Officer and Consultant Ophthalmologist & Vitreoretinal Surgeon

Dr. Ammar Safar is an American Board-Certified Ophthalmologist specialising in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai in Dubai Healthcare City. He is currently an adjunct Professor of Ophthalmology at Mohammad Bin Rashed University and the Chief Medical Officer of Moorfields Eye Hospitals in the United Arab Emirates. Dr. Safar undertook his medical training in Syria before moving to the United States for post-graduate training. He specialised in Ophthalmology at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, where he also served as a Chief Resident. He then acquired an additional 2-year fellowship training in Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, USA. Dr. Ammar then went on to hold the position of Assistant and later Associate Professor and Director of Vitreoretinal Surgery at the Department of Ophthalmology, Jones Eye Institute, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, in the United States. He then relocated to the UAE, where he was a Consultant Vitreoretinal Surgeon and President of Medical Staff at a private general hospital in Dubai. In addition to his work in private practice, Dr. Ammar has undertaken research and clinical trials in areas such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related eye diseases and published and presented extensively. His research has also resulted in advances in retinal vascular diseases (discovering new management options for diabetic retinopathy and vascular occlusive disorders) and macular degeneration (new approaches for treating exudative macular degeneration). Among his many honorary awards, Dr. Ammar was the inaugural recipient of The Martha Wood Bentley endowed Chair of Ophthalmology at the University of Arkansas. He is a member of several professional associations, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Retina Specialists, the European Society of Retina Specialists, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, The Association for Research In Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), Arab-American Medical Association, Research to Prevent Blindness, and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

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Prof. Ziad Bashshur

Visiting Consultant Ophthalmologist in Medical & Surgical Retina

Dr. Ziad Bashshur is a visiting Ophthalmologist specialising in Medical and Surgical Retina at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai in Dubai Healthcare City. He holds a Doctor of Medicine Diploma from the American University of Beirut (AUB) in 1994. He has also completed an internship in internal medicine at Georgetown/VA medical center (1994-1995) followed by ophthalmology residency training at AUB (1995-1998) and a vitreoretinal fellowship at the University of Virginia, USA. He has more than 22 years of regional/international experience in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery in countries including United States and Lebanon. In his career, he has practiced in leading medical institutions such as American University of Beirut in Lebanon and University of Virginia in the US. He is currently a tenured professor and vice-chairman of Ophthalmology at the American University of Beirut. Dr. Bashshur has undertaken research in retinal diseases and has published over 50 research papers on macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, vascular diseases of the retina and retinal imaging in leading journals. In addition, he sits on several advisory boards within the medical industry. He regularly speaks at professional meetings worldwide and serves on the review board of several renowned peer-reviewed ophthalmology journals. He is a member of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS), Retina Society and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society

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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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Dr. Ramzi Ghanem

Consultant Ophthalmologist in Medical Retina, Vitreoretinal and Cataract Surgery

Dr. Ramzi Ghanem is a Consultant Ophthalmologist with extensive experience in cataract surgery as well as medical and surgical retina including the full spectrum of vitreoretinal surgery, intravitreal drug injection and laser treatment. Dr. Ramzi is a graduate of the University of Leipzig, Germany and completed his 2 doctoral thesis on anti-VEGF isomers in AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration) at the University of Leipzig and predictors for short term visual outcome after anti-VEGF therapy of CSME due to CRVO at the University of Bern, Switzerland. He has more than 20 years of experience in Germany, Switzerland and UAE. He has researched extensively, conducted clinical trials, published and lectured on his areas of expertise. He has been a HAAD consultant and examiner for licensure in ophthalmology.

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