Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai offers free eye consultations to TECOM staff and partners, in support of Dubai Healthcare City’s health check campaign

[:en]14 September 2010 (Dubai, UAE): Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (Moorfields), the Dubai branch of the world renowned London hospital for eye treatment, teaching and research, is offering free eye consultations in support of the health check campaign by Dubai Healthcare City.
Dubai Healthcare City’s Health Check program 2010 will offer free lunchtime consultations with doctors covering a range of health-related matters in different TECOM Business Parks, for a total of eight weeks. The consultations will be by appointment on a first response basis.
Moorfields has committed to providing free eye care checks through the full day on Wednesday 15th September 2010, from 0900-16.30pm, at Dubai Knowledge Village (Block 2A. room 4). Dr Imran Ansari, General Ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, will be conducting the eye checks. All appointments for the day have been booked.
Executive Director of Dubai Healthcare City, Dr. Ayesha Abdullah said: “Dubai Healthcare City is committed to health prevention not just treatment. This is a commitment I know our healthcare partners share and I am delighted that Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai is supporting our initiative today to increase public engagement on health by offering free eye consultations. Every week, for the next eight weeks we will be working with DHCC clinics and hospitals to provide free expert advice and care to the community. We want people to put their health first and are delighted to be launching this initiative with one of the world’s oldest and most admired eye hospitals.”
Dr Chris Canning, Medical Director at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, added: “Moorfields welcomes this initiative by Dubai Healthcare City for the benefit of staff and partners at TECOM. Education and screening are prime objectives of ours and this programme delivers both. Healthcare should be as much about screening and prevention as well as treatment; and a regular health check up – including an eye check – is a vital habit to instil in the community.”
Contact: Jonathan Walsh/Vanessa Payne
WPR Limited
Dubai
050 4588610
[email protected]

Palestine Children’s Relief Fund refers young patient to Moorfields for expert eye treatment

[:en]16 September 2010 (Dubai, UAE): The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) has referred another young patient to Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (Moorfields) – the Dubai branch of the Moorfields Eye Hospital in London – for treatment. The young man requires the fitting of artificial eye prosthesis – a procedure which is not possible in Gaza. A Moorfields consultant will perform a comprehensive examination of the patient at the Dubai hospital, and then the artificial eye fitting is expected to proceed quickly after this.
The patient is AbdelHadi Al Jedaili, a 15-year old young man from Albureag, Gaza, who was admitted to a Government Hospital in Gaza in January 2009 with a serious facial injury caused by an explosive device, and which led to the loss of his left eye. As there are no facilities in Gaza to treat such a serious eye injury or to fit an eye prosthesis, the PCRF decided to refer AbdelHadi Al Jedaili’s case to Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, which has already treated similar cases for the PCRF.
The PCRF UAE Chapter, an international humanitarian relief and medical charity, managed all the logistics to bring AbdelHadi Al Jedaili to the UAE, including visa processing, travel arrangements, and accommodation.
Dr Andrea Sciscio, Consultant Oculoplastic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, will conduct the examination of the remaining socket to ensure a comfortable and good fit of the new artificial eye. Paul Geelen, the Ocularist based at Moorfields, will then prepare the artificial eye by carefully moulding and sculpting the prosthesis to fit in the eye socket, and in the final stages by painting the artificial eye, which fits over the remaining eyeball, to match the remaining natural eye perfectly.
Commenting on AbdelHadi Al Jedaili’s case, Dr Andrea Sciscio, Consultant Oculoplastic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, said: “The prognosis for AbdelHadi Al Jedaili is good because there appears to be little or no bone damage to his eye socket or to the surrounding tissue; this means that the procedure to fit an artificial eye can go ahead much quicker, as there is no repair work to be done to the face or eye socket, beforehand. We expect him to make a good recovery and be able to live a very normal life after treatment.”
The PCRF welcomed Moorfield’s continuing medical support for the work of PCRF and for AbdelHadi Al Jedaili in particular. Steve Sosebee, President and CEO of the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, added: On behalf of the PCRF, the PCRF UAE community and our local volunteers, AbdelHadi Al Jedaili and his family, I would like to thank Moorfields for continuing to help the young people in Palestine who cannot get adequate medical care locally.”
The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund is an international NGO which has sent dozens of injured children to Dubai over the past four years for medical care that is not available to them in Palestine. Most of this work has been in cooperation with The Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment.
www.pcrf.net

Issued on behalf of Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai by WPR.
Media contacts:
Jonathan Walsh/Vanessa Payne
WPR Limited
Dubai
050 4588610
[email protected]

Take the Moorfields challenge at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2012

[:en]27 February 2012 (Dubai, UAE): Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (Moorfields), a branch of the world-renowned 200 year-old Moorfields eye hospital in London, has confirmed its support for the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature for the second successive year, and will once again add a new dimension to the high profile event, with eye tests, English and Arabic storytelling, competitions, arts & crafts, face painting, a games area, and balloon bending, as well as a photo booth with digital print outs on the spot to provide lasting memories for those attending as well as an extra element of fun. Moorfields will be entertaining and educating visitors in the downstairs foyer area at the Event Center, on Friday March 9th and Saturday March 10th, 2012, from 10am to 5pm.
Moorfields is offering younger visitors (and the whole family) to the Festival an opportunity to enjoy a fun-filled, educational time, as the team from Moorfields challenges visitors to take an eye test and learn more about ‘Frisby Stereo’, ‘Ishihara colours’ and ‘Kay pictures’. In addition to fun and games, experts from Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai will be on hand to provide advice and guidance on eye care for children and other family members, and to answer any questions.
Moorfields’ important health message for parents attending the Festival is based on the 5 good reasons why children should have regular eye tests:

  • Eye problems in children are relatively common
  • Eye problems run in families
  • Small children who are born with poor vision cannot tell you their vision is poor
  • Children may be having difficulty at school because of a vision problem
  • Most causes of poor vision are easily corrected if they are picked up and treated in time

Commenting on the hospital’s sponsorship and activity programme for the Festival, Dr Chris Canning, CEO and Medical Director at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, said: “Moorfields is delighted to be supporting this world class literature festival in Dubai for a second year, after a very successful event in 2011.Of course, the benefits of reading are significant and, if encouraged at a young age, reading can become a lifelong pleasure. Reading difficulties can also be a sign of eye problems and so there is a natural connection with our work at Moorfields. We look forward to having a lot of fun over the course of the Festival but there is a serious message as well. The human brain is learning to see from birth until about the age of seven and a half and so checking the eyes during this time is important. Eye tests for children are quick, simple and painless and can help prevent serious problems in later children or in adulthood. We will have some fun eye tests on our stand and we hope all families coming to the Festival will take the challenge and learn about the five reasons for children to have an eye test.”
Issued on behalf of MEHD by WPR.
Media Contact:
Jonathan Walsh
WPR
Dubai
Tel: 050 4588610
Email: [email protected]

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai Lasik-Lasek final release

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The long and the short of laser vision correction in the UAE
Assessment is the vital starting point before undergoing or re-doing laser corrective eye surgery, advises Moorfields

6 December 2012 (Dubai, United Arab Emirates): Residents in the region now have access to the highest quality and most advanced laser corrective eye surgery – conveniently and affordably – right here in the UAE, but care should be taken to undergo a thorough and professional patient assessment beforehand, according to experts at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (Moorfields).
In the UAE, Lasik eye surgery has become routine for those as young as 21 years and it is often also a possible option for presbyopic patients after age 40, provided their refractive error is within a certain range. Quick, painless and with a high success rate, laser corrective surgery has become a routine medical procedure but patient assessment is still an essential step before committing to treatment.
“Laser corrective eye surgery is very accessible in the UAE but the consultation process should determine whether or not a patient qualifies for the surgery and there should be an in-depth examination of each patient to assess their suitability for corrective surgery. Without this, there is a risk of complications arising from the surgery,” says Dr Edmondo Borasio, Consultant Corneal and Refractive Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai. “Especially in the Gulf area, one of the possible risks of LASIK is the development of keratoconus (i.e. progressive corneal weakening) in patients with genetically predisposed corneas, so great care should be taken in confirming eligibility.”
“Patients who have had a stable vision prescription for at least one year and who do not have eye diseases, severely dry eyes and/or weak corneas, are typical candidates for corrective eye surgery.” He adds. “Anyone over the age of 21 is eligible for the procedure but laser vision correction after the age of 40 may require a small compromise between near and distance vision.
‘Lasik’ actually stands for ‘Laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis’ which is a procedure that reshapes the cornea. Lasik eye surgery is used to treat patients with near sightedness, short sightedness, far sightedness and astigmatism. Before the surgery begins, a local anaesthetic is applied using special eye drops so the patient will not feel anything. During the surgery a small flap is created with the femtosecond laser on the superficial layers of the cornea, and the underlying corneal tissue is sculpted using an excimer laser. The flap is then put back in place and carefully realigned.
During the operation, the patient does not see or feel very much; the procedure is quick, lasting just a few minutes and the overall time spent in theatre is around 10 minutes, although surgical time is often just a couple of minutes. After the surgery, the eyes can feel a little ‘scratchy’ for 6-8 hours and recovery can be expected in less than a day. Overall there is around 98% success rate with the procedure and patients can see a major improvement immediately after surgery. The majority of the LASIK patients have an almost complete recovery already the next day. Patients not suitable for LASIK because of thin or irregular corneas can instead undergo a surface ablation (LASEK) which is equally effective but takes longer to recover (around 1 week in most cases).
All the latest techniques used for the correction of Myopia, Hypermetropia and Astigmatism are available at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, including IntraLase, WaveFront LASIK, LASEK, PRK and Epi-LASIK. Dr Borasio has also particular expertise in the management of complications arising from previous refractive surgery.
www.moorfields.ae
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Notes to editors
Laser Refractive Surgery
All the latest techniques used for the correction of Myopia, Hypermetropia and Astigmatism are available at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, including IntraLase, WaveFront LASIK, LASEK, PRK and Epi-LASIK. The Hospital is also a referral centre for the management of complications from previous refractive surgery. During a LASIK procedure, a very thin flap has to be created on the front of the cornea before the corrective laser is applied.
Until a few years ago, LASIK flaps could only be created with a mechanical blade called “microkeratome”. Nowadays however, with the latest advances in technology it is possible to create these flaps entirely with the laser. Such a laser is called femtosecond IntraLase and allows to “cut” with a precision in the order of 15 microns (1 micron is 1/1000 of a mm). Greater precision also means reduced risks of complications compared to using the blade.
About Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai
Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (MEHD) is the first overseas branch of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the oldest and one of the largest centres for ophthalmic treatment, teaching and research in the world. Located at the Al Razi Medical Complex in Dubai Health Care City, the facility provides day case surgery and outpatient diagnostic and treatment services, for a variety of surgical and non-surgical eye conditions. MEHD will also raise standards for research and teaching in the region through its partnership with the Harvard Medical School Dubai Center. MEHD is owned and managed by the NHS Foundation Trust, and maintains close links with London to ensure that patients in the GCC receive the best eye care treatment in the world.
Contact: Jonathan Walsh
WPR Limited
Dubai
050 4588610
[email protected]

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai unlocks the secrets to younger eyes this summer

[:en]2 June 2013 (Dubai, United Arab Emirates): Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and when it comes to anti-aging, cosmetic facial surgery around the eyes (‘periorbital rejuvenation’ as it is known to the experts) is the most common procedure. But results can be erratic with low patient satisfaction.  The best results are achieved when patients are operated on by Oculoplastic Surgeons who regularly operate on the eyelid and periorbital region, say the Consultant Oculoplastic Surgeons at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, the first overseas branch of the world renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.
The most common procedure in facial cosmetic surgery is performed on the upper and lower eyelids – ‘blepharoplasty’. Around 250,000 procedures are performed every year around the world. However, whilst it is a common procedure, the results can vary significantly from patient expectations.   “Traditional Blepharoplasty has an enormous potential for disaster,” says Dr Andrea Sciscio, Consultant Oculoplastic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai. “There is no perfect aesthetic procedure and it is very much a case of understanding each patient’s exact problem and address it accordingly.”
Blepharoplasty has evolved enormously since it was first developed 70 years ago.  Over the decades, the techniques have developed to yield the best aesthetic outcome for each patient individually. The eyelids have to be evaluated in the context of the eyebrow and the mid-face appearance – its overall ‘height’ and structure, adds Dr Qasiem Nasser, Consultant Oculoplastic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai: “An analysis of the soft tissues from the eyebrows to the mid-face, and from the surface to the deeper structures up to the orbital rim (eye socket and surrounding structure), allows the surgeon to establish the aging changes that have occurred with the patient and helps direct the blepharoplasty surgery to deliver the optimal aesthetic outcome.”

From June-August 2013, Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai is offering a special summer rate on consultations for aesthetic eye surgery.

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai first colour vision study of the UAE’s diabetic population shows that ‘colour blindness’ is not a black and white issue

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10 June 2013 (Dubai, United Arab Emirates):  Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai has revealed some of the findings of its first UAE colour vison study, undertaken by specialists from the hospital amongst people with diabetes in the UAE population. One of the unexpected findings was that significant colour vision defects were revealed in the vast majority of the tested Emirati population, which includes local people with and without diabetes. The general causes of ‘colour blindness’ (colour vision defects) are well known but the Moorfields study findings need more research to asses whether this UAE revelation is due to genetic or acquired factors (such as excessive exposure to sunlight or Vitamin D deficiency), according to the team at Moorfields.
What is commonly referred to as ‘colour blindness’ is not blindness at all but rather a colour vision deficiency – an inability or decreased ability to see colour or perceive colour differences under normal lighting conditions.
The first scientific paper on colour ‘blindness’ was published by an English chemist – John Dalton – in 1798, when he realised that he was colour blind. The paper was titled ‘Extraordinary facts relating to the vision of colours’.
Color blindness affects a significant number of people and especially isolated communities with a restricted gene pool. More than 95 percent of all variations in human colour vision involve the red and green receptors in male eyes and it is very rare for males or females to be ‘blind’ to the blue end of the spectrum.
An Ishihara colour test consisting of a series of pictures of coloured spots, is the test most often used to diagnose red–green colour deficiencies, with a shape or number embedded in the picture and which can be seen with normal colour vision but not with a colour defect.
The cause of colour blindness is now well known and understood and is related to a fault in the development of one or more sets of retinal ‘cones’ that perceive colour in light and transmit that information to the optic nerve. It is more common amongst men than women because it is linked to the genes, although eye or brain damage can also produce similar symptoms.
‘Colour blindness’ can be stationary or progressive in nature and can be linked to other eye conditions such as age related macular degeneration. It can be total (much less common) or partial and there are two major types of colour blindness: difficulty distinguishing between red and green, difficulty distinguishing between blue and yellow. Around 8 percent of males but only 0.5 percent of females are colour blind in some way or another.
One of the Moorfields researchers, Dr Imran Ansari – an Ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai – comments: “There are different forms of ‘colour blindness’ which may have a variety of long term lifestyle implications as there is no cure. The condition may be acquired or inherited (congenital). It is usually classed as a mild disability and whilst it can be debilitating to some degree, there are also some situations where it can actually be an advantage, such as penetrating certain colour camouflages. Of course, there are some occupations in which ‘colour blindness’ is a distinct disadvantage, where recognising colour codes could be an important safety factor, such as when driving cars or flying aircraft, for example.”

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai appoints Consultant Paediatric Ophthalmologist to its permanent team of specialist consultants

7 July 2013 (Dubai, United Arab Emirates): Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, the first overseas branch of the world renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, has announced the appointment of its latest specialist consultant to its growing team of medical specialists based permanently in Dubai. Dr Darakhshanda Khurram is a Consultant Paediatric Ophthalmologist with a specialist interest in paediatric cataract congenital eye disease  and squint (strabismus) surgery. Dr Khurram joins the hospital as Moorfields continues to increase its medical staff and strengthen its range of specialities, serving patients in the UAE and wider region, after operating in the Middle East for more than five years.
Dr Darakhshanda Khurram trained at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Moorfields Eye Hospital, in London, as a general ophthalmologist with a highly advanced sub-specialist interest in Paediatric Ophthalmology. Dr Khurram’s areas of expertise are the clinical and surgical management of congenital cataracts, congenital glaucoma and strabismus surgery (including the use of botulinum toxin ). She is very experienced in the screening and management of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP – a disease of the eye effecting prematurely born babies). She has advanced diagnostic skills in paediatric ophthalmology including congenital eye abnormalities and inherited diseases.
After studying medicine at the Rawalpindi Medical College, Pakistan, Dr Khurram completed a four-year ophthalmology residency programme leading to her post-graduate fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons in Glasgow, UK. She trained and worked as an Assistant Professor at the Al-Shifa Eye Hospital in Pakistan, providing specialised paediatric ophthalmology services.
She completed her advanced fellowship training in Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus at the two world renowned hospitals – Great Ormond Street Hospital and Moorfields Eye Hospital, in London, UK, where she worked with some of the most prominent Paediatric Ophthalmologists and built on her previous substantial experience to gain an in depth  and comprehensive knowledge of rare and challenging paediatric ophthalmic conditions as well as experience in the most modern surgical and clinical procedures.
Dr. Khurram has been an active researcher and has a strong record of peer reviewed publications in clinical research and audit. She has also presented at international conferences, including the American Association of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, World Congress of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, and World Ophthalmology Congress.
Commenting on the latest consultant appointment, Dr Clare Roberts, Medical Director at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai and herself a paediatric ophthalmologist, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dr Khurram to our growing team of specialists in Dubai and she brings with her outstanding qualifications and experience. Many of our consultants, like Dr Khurram, trained at Moorfields in London, and all are based permanently in the UAE to ensure a consistently high quality of continuity if patient care and follow up. We continue to see a growing number of children at the hospital and so her specialist skills in this area will be of particular value and we plan to appoint further specialists through the course of 2013.”
Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai opened in 2007 and has since treated more than 26,000 patients.

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai supports 15th Emirates Ophthalmology Congress in Dubai (12-14 December 2013) with the participation of leading consultants

[:en]10 December 2013 (Dubai, United Arab Emirates): Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (Moorfields) will support the 15th Emirates Ophthalmology Congress in Dubai, with the active participation of some of its leading consultants who will moderate and present at the event. The annual congress will focus on updates and innovations in ophthalmology and will attract the leading practitioners in the field from the UAE, Middle East and other countries, including the full 10-strong team of ophthalmology consultants and other members of the clinical team at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai.
The 2013 Emirates Ophthalmology Congress meeting will be a forum for the latest advances, reviews of current theory and practice, and hands-on problem-based learning. Participants will gain insights into the most effective advances in the diagnosis and management of eye disease and prevention of blindness. Subspecialty sessions will cover the topics of Retina, Glaucoma, Cataract and Refractive surgery. A comprehensive poster program will be featured and will be digitally available at all times.
Dr Avinash Gurbaxani, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon in Uveitis and Medical Retinal Diseases at Moorfields, will speak at the symposium on ‘the micro biome and auto immune disease’ – a relatively new concept which explores the complex relationship between the vast amount of bacteria that inhabit the human body and their interaction with our genes and immune system.
Dr Edoardo Zinicola, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Moorfields, will moderate the Retina session and also present on Central Retinal Vein Occlusion.
Dr Qasiem Nasser, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Oculoplastics Specialist at Moorfields, will speak about the oculoplastic surgical evaluation of the upper eyelid.
According to Dr Nasser, the most common procedure in facial cosmetic surgery is performed on the upper and lower eyelids – ‘blepharoplasty’. Around 250,000 procedures are performed every year around the world. However, whilst it is a common procedure, the results can vary significantly from patient expectations. “Traditional Blepharoplasty has an enormous potential for disaster. There is no perfect aesthetic procedure and it is very much a case of understanding each patient’s exact problem and addressing it accordingly.”

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai invests in the world’s most advanced, fastest fine beam laser eye correction technology

[:en]15 December 2013 (Dubai, United Arab Emirates): Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, the first overseas branch of the world renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, has invested in the most advanced technology used for laser refractive surgery for vision correction, providing improved performance for patients in terms of speed, precision, safety and comfort, and often allowing faster visual recovery. Patients can also benefit from a special offer on vision correction surgery until the end of the year. The Schwind Amaris 750S uses an exceptionally small diameter laser beam with a customised ablation map, which matches the shape of the patient’s cornea. The resulting vision for the patient can be an improvement on pre-treatment eyesight with glasses or contact lenses. Moorfields, in Dubai, is among the first private hospitals in the Middle East to invest in the new technology. The Schwind Amaris 750S is the leading technology for laser treatment and operates with a very fast repetition rate: 750 tiny light flashes per second shape the corneal surface quickly resulting in patient comfort and better vision correction, correcting one dioptre (a measure of the optical power of a lens) of myopia within 1.5 seconds, and eight dioptres are removed within 13 seconds.
Dr Edmondo Borasio, Consultant Corneal and Refractive Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, said: “Patients should only have this eye correction treatment done once and so they want to have the safest and most effective treatment. The Amaris 750S really is the state of the art in laser vision correction – very fast and accurate, whilst providing information of the cornea on screen in real time. It is especially valuable for patients who have complications from other eye diseases and for those who have a complication following previous surgery. Moorfields is a referral centre for the management of complications following previous refractive surgery. The new technology, which is very compact and patient friendly, is already operational and the patient results have been very good.”
Clinical studies have documented the treatment quality achieved with the Schwind Amaris technology, with visual acuity of 10/10 (100 percent) or better achieved in nearly all cases. This means that a high percentage of treated patients could see even better than before treatment with their glasses or contact lenses. The study also shows that patients had improved contrast vision.
The Schwind Amaris 750S has two energy levels, a high energy level rapidly removes around 80 percent of the tissue to be removed and then a gentler beam removes the remaining 20 percent, creating the smooth surface required for improved vision. Since the patient’s eyes can involuntarily move for milliseconds while fixating on the laser light, the Schwind Amaris 750S compensates for this with its advanced 6 dimensions eye tracker that monitors the position of the eye with approximately 1050 measurements per second and detects all these eye movements and compensates for them, instantly.
Moorfields is currently offering patients (minimum age 21) a saving of up to AED2,500 on vision correction surgery – subject to terms, an initial assessment and the treatment administered – until 31st December 2013.

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai and THE VISION CARE INSTITUTE® of Johnson & Johnson collaborate on a professional seminar for the region’s opticians

[:en]9 February 2014 (Dubai, United Arab Emirates): Leadingeye experts from Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (Moorfields) presented a professional seminar recently for 26 eye care professionals from across the GCC, organised and hosted by THE VISION CARE INSTITUTE® (The Institute) at Dubai Health Care City. The seminar focused on common conditions and patient questions and concerns around glaucoma – the second leading cause of blindness in the world – and oculoplastics (cosmetic surgery around the eyes).
During the seminar, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Oculoplastics Specialist at Moorfields Dubai, Dr Qasiem Nasser, discussed the evaluation of the upper eyelid from an oculoplastic perspective in response to the common patient complaint of ‘droopy eyelids’. Eye specialists especially are well equipped to undertake cosmetic procedures around the eyes because of their background knowledge in the specific area of the eye solely and exclusively.
Dr Sohaib Mustafa, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Glaucoma Specialist at Moorfields Dubai, then covered Glaucoma,discussing the detection, referral and management of the disease. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide and the number one cause of irreversible blindness. However, the disease is treatable and blindness can be prevented through early diagnosis. Although children and young adults can be affected by Glaucoma, high risk groups include older` people (with an increasing risk over 40 years ofage), uncontrolled diabetics and those with a family history of glaucoma. The World Health Authority estimates that Glaucoma affects around 60 million people globally. Glaucoma is called “the sneak thief of sight” because there are no symptoms and once vision is lost, it is permanent. As much as 40 percent of vision can be lost without a person noticing.
Commenting on the seminar, Dr Clare Roberts, Medical Director at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, said: “Training – alongside research and treatment – is an integral part of the Moorfields mission in the region and we are delighted to be working alongside THE VISION CARE INSTITUTE® which shares inour commitment to a patient-led approach to continual medical education. The Institute provides world class training facilities and resources, dedicated to improving the professional standards of eye care professionals in the region. By focusing on frontline eye care professionals, we can make a real difference to theirpatients by helping them identify potential problems even before there are any symptoms. Glaucoma is a great example – screening for the disease and then compliance with the treatment regime are two importantmessages for the professional community to share with their patients.”
THE VISION CARE INSTITUTE® in Dubai Health Care City, Dubai, offers continual education to eye care professionals all over the Middle East, with the aim of fostering a more confident and proactive approach to eye care. The Institute has state of the art facilities and technology to deliver innovative eye care education and has welcomed over 5,000 delegates since opening in the Middle East in 2008.Type your content here…

Moorfields and United Eastern Medical Services sign partnership agreement to establish Moorfields Eye Centre in Abu Dhabi

[:en]17 June 2014 (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates): Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London, the oldest and one of the largest centres for ophthalmic treatment, teaching and research in the world and United Eastern Medical Services (UEMEDICAL), Abu Dhabi’s leading privately owned healthcare development and investment company, signed today a partnership agreement to establish Moorfields Eye Centre (MEC) in Abu Dhabi.
Moorfields Eye Centre will open in Abu Dhabi towards the end of 2014, and will offer the same comprehensive range of high quality clinical services and day case surgical procedures offered at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai. Services offered at the Moorfields Eye Centre in Abu Dhabi will include paediatric ophthalmology, strabismus, glaucoma, retina – medical and surgical, oculoplastics (cosmetic surgery around the eye), corneal, and refractive (vision corrective surgery). Since October 2013, Ophthalmology Consultants from Moorfields have been providing outpatient services at UEMEDICAL’s HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Centre in Abu Dhabi.
Moorfields opened its purpose-built hospital in Dubai in 2007 – the first overseas branch of Moorfields Eye Hospital in London – and which has since treated more than 31,000 patients, some of whom have come from Abu Dhabi. The hospital has a permanent team of 10 specialist consultants and has confirmed its status as a centre of excellence in treatment, training and research.
UEMEDICAL owns and operates a network of specialty centres and family clinics across Abu Dhabi under its ‘HealthPlus’ brand, and will soon open the first specialized Women and Children’s Hospital, Danat Al Emarat, in Abu Dhabi.
Mr. Mohamad Ali Al Shorfa Al Hammadi, CEO & Managing Director of United Eastern Medical Services commented – “Such an agreement with world renowned Ophthalmic Center of Excellence, Moorfields Eye Hospital, represents another step for UEMEDICAL in the realization of the UAE Leaders vision to provide the people of the UAE with the best healthcare facilities comparable to international standards. It also comes in line with the Health Authority – Abu Dhabi strategic priorities to improve clinical outcomes through partnering with world renowned partners. The new Moorfields Eye Centre in Abu Dhabi will complement our other outpatient centers. We develop integrated healthcare systems that raise the bar for medical excellence. The New Moorfields Eye Centre in Abu Dhabi will be one of very few facilities in the emirate that are fully specialized in eye care services. Through partnering with Moorfields we plan on bridging the gap in the current eye care services available in the Emirate”
Commenting on the new agreement and centre, Mr. John Pelly, CEO of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are very pleased to sign this partnership agreement with UEMEDICAL and to bring Moorfields’ world class eye care services to the community of Abu Dhabi. Our mission always remains constant, which is to focus on treating patients, teaching and research and this new centre will aim to make a significant contribution in all three areas, in Abu Dhabi. The new centre is an important part of our expansion strategy for the UAE and will complement Moorfields’ mission in Dubai and hopefully replicate the hospital’s outstanding success in serving the community and supporting the development of healthcare in the UAE.”

Eye experts raise concerns about cataracts as age and diabetes raise threat levels in the region

[:en]30 June 2014 (Dubai, United Arab Emirates): According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cataracts are the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in the world (47.9%) and their prevalence increases each year as the world’s population ages. Eye experts at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai are warning about the rising incidence of cataracts in the GCC’s young but ageing population (over 65 segment growing from 1.2% in 2015 to 14.2% of the GCC population by 2050) and especially amongst the large diabetic community in the GCC, where the risk of cataracts is much higher. Age and diabetes are the two main risk factors for cataracts.
Cataracts cause gradual blurring of the vision. In 2002, cataracts caused reversible blindness in more than 17 million of the 37 million blind individuals worldwide; this figure is projected to reach 40 million by 2020. In the Gulf region, an ageing population and high incidence of diabetes is raising concerns among eye experts.
‘Cataract’ is an English word for a large waterfall and is also a very apt term used to describe a gradual loss of vision as the lens of the eye becomes opaque and so is like looking through a waterfall. Cataracts are cloudy opacifications of the lens of the eye that interfere with vision. Cataracts can be caused by a wide variety of factors. The lens of the eye is made up of cells that contain protein and with increasing age and after damage to the lens cells by trauma, illness or certain medications over time the protein becomes denser and the lens may start to cloud over.Age is the single most important risk factor for cataracts, which are rare before the age of 40 – although babies can also be born with cataracts. Diabetes is one of the other key factors that result in the development of cataracts; people with diabetes mellitus statistically face a 60% greater risk of developing cataracts.
As with most complications of diabetes, maintaining good control of blood sugar levels will help to reduce risk. Research has shown that people with type 2 diabetes who lower their HbA1c level by just 1% can reduce their risk of cataracts by 19%.Dr Edoardo Zinicola, Consultant Vitreoretinal Surgeon and Medical Retina Specialist at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, the first overseas branch of the world’s largest eye hospital, comments: “We cannot turn back time and even the young population of the Middle East will eventually age, potentially creating a wave of chronic disease – principally diabetes, which will create this perfect storm for cataracts and other serious eye complications. Cataracts generally develop and progress slowly and can eventually lead to significant vision problems. The good news is that cataracts can be treated very effectively with modern surgery to remove the cloudy lens and insert a high quality lens implant. Once treated, cataracts do not return.”
Moorfields is inviting the community and people with diabetes for cataract screening, diagnosis and assessment, as well as surgery where appropriate, and is offering special rates during the summer months.