eye clinic Archives

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 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 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.”

Myopia

Myopia is a common refractive condition which causes individuals to be near-sighted: they see near objects clearly but distant objects are blurry. Myopia occurs when the cornea and lens focus the light in front of the retina instead of exactly on it. Symptoms of myopia include; difficulty seeing distant objects, squinting frequently, holding books or other objects very close to the face, difficulty seeing writing on signs or watching television and difficulty with driving (particularly at night). Myopia should be diagnosed by a qualified Optometrist, Ophthalmic Surgeon or Eye Specialist. Myopia is best treated with eyeglasses or contact lenses which compensate for the elongated shape of the eye allowing the light to focus properly on the retina. Refractive surgery is another option that eliminates dependence on glasses or contact lenses.

Lacrimal Probing in Children

The tear duct is a channel/passage which runs from a tiny opening in the medial lids through the bone to the inside of the nose, and drains the tears and mucus the eye produces. It should open just before or just after birth but sometimes remains blocked for a considerable time after that, causing watering and discharge from the eye. It is harmless, and does not affect the health of the eye or the vision, although it can make the eyelids red and sore and slightly increases the frequency of infective conjunctivitis.

Intravitreal Injection

The macula is the central part of the retina at the back of the eye. It 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.
A course of three injections is recommended with each injection administered one month apart. The procedure is carried out in a clean environment using sterile technique. The eye is cleaned and local anaesthetic drops are given to numb the eye.
The eye may or may not be covered after the injection. If a pad is applied, this may be removed when you reach home.

High Precision Refractive Surgery

When you decide on an eye laser treatment, you expect the best possible results. The more fully developed the methods are, the better the outcome will be. The SCHWIND AMARIS 750S offers you the leading technology for your laser treatment – superior in all important aspects: Speed, precision, safety and comfort.

Dacryocystorhinostomy

[:en]Blocked Tear Duct. The tear ducts start at the inner corner of the eye with two small holes in the corner of the eyelids. Each hole is known as a punctum, they lead into small tubes known as canaliculi, which in turn drains into the lacrinal sac. This lies between the corner of your eye and your nose which has a duct at the bottom, which drains into your nose, which drains nasolacrimal duct. They continue into small channels that join up and reach the lacrimal sac, which leads into the nasolacrimal duct. The tear ducts do not have much spare capacity and this is why we cry. The channels tend to become narrower with age, especially if there has been nose or sinus disease. An obstruction of the tear ducts will give you a watery eye. Syringing of the lacrimal system with a blunt cannula will determine the type and the site of the blockage. Occasionally a special radiograph is necessary. Called a dacrocystogram, which visualizes the locrimal duct at the eye following the injection of an x-ray dye into the duct.
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Return to Educational Leaflets Homepage[:ar]الوقائع:

تنطلق الأقنية الدمعية من ثقبين صغيرين في الزاوية الداخلية للعينين ثم تنضم إلى الكيس الدمعي لتبلغ بعده القناة الأنفية الدمعية.
إنّ القنوات الدمعية قليلة السعة وهذا ما يجعلنا نبكي. كما أنها تضيق مع التقدم في السن.
خاصّة لدى الإصابة بإلتهاب الجيوب الأنفية.
يؤدي انسداد الأقنية الدمعية إلى تدمع العينين.
إن إدخال قُنَيّة (أنبوب) كليلة (غير حادة) إلى الجهاز الدمعي من شأنه تحديد موقع الإنسداد.
في بعض الحالات يتم اللجوء للتصوير الشعاعي الخاص.

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Amblyopia Therapy

What is Amblyopia?

Lazy eye – the medical term is Amblyopia – is a common eye condition amongst younger children. It means that one eye is not developing properly and becomes ‘lazy’ because the brain is working harder with the good eye to compensate. The problem is that if the brain ignores the lazy eye, the cells in the brain that create vision do not develop properly. Generally, Amblyopia affects just one eye but sometimes both eyes can have a problem.

What causes a ‘lazy eye’?

For children, the most important period for the development of vision is from birth to the age of 6 and if there is any interference with development during this period, then this can lead to amblyopia which is commonly caused by a squint (strabismus) in one eye, anisometropia (different vision/prescriptions in each eye), and/ or obstruction of an eye due to cataract, trauma, lid droop, etc.

Why does my child need to wear a patch?

The best and simplest way to treat lazy eye is to cover or patch (known as occluding) the other eye so the vision in the lazy eye can improve and develop the pathways to the brain.
The patch is worn over the good eye and the amount of time the patch must be worn is decided by the Orthoptist/Ophthalmologist and relates to the extent of the visual problem.
With early treatment by patching, vision can develop successfully but this becomes more difficult with older children and the level of vision achieved may not be as good.

My Child’s Treatment

Patient name:
Patient number:
Glasses must be worn
Please patch the eye RIGHT LEFT
For hours a day.
If the child wears glasses, he or she should continue to wear them even with the patch.

Optometrist

[:en]Patients who need to have a vision test or have glasses/contact lenses fitted to correct their vision, go to an Optometrist. An Optometrist is a health care professional who is licensed to provide primary eye care services.
Optometrists examine and diagnose vision defects such as near sightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism (blurred vision), and presbyopia (reduced ability to focus on close objects) among other possible problems.
During an optometric examination, vision abnormalities can be found. So, Optometrists can recommend treatments for patients including prescriptions for eyeglasses, contact lenses, low vision aids, medications or a referral to an Ophthalmologist for advanced medical, surgical or laser treatment.
The Optometrist can also perform minor surgeries such as removing a foreign object from the surface of the eye.
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To read more on Parents and Children, click here[:ar]يلجأ المرضى لأخصائي فحص النظر إذا كانوا يحتاجون لإجراء فحص للبصر أو لتركيب نظارات/عدسات طبية لاصقة لتصحيح البصر.أخصائي فحص النظر هو أحد أخصائيي الرعاية الصحية وهو مؤهل وحاصل على رخصة لتقديم خدمات الرعاية الصحية المتعلقة بفحص العيون.
يقوم أخصائيو فحص النظر بفحص وتشخيص أي خلل في قدرة الإبصار مثل قصر النظر وطول النظر واللابؤرية (تشوش الرؤية) وطول النظر المرتبط بالشيخوخة (أو ضعف القدرة على التركيز على الأجسام القريبة) وغيرها من المشاكل المحتملة.
قد يكشف أخصائي فحص النظر عن مشاكل أو خلل في النظر أثناء الفحص. وفي هذه الحالة يمكن لأخصائي فحص النظر التوصية بالعلاج المناسب للمريض بما في ذلك وصف ارتداء النظارات الطبية أو العدسات اللاصقة أو استخدام أدوات تقوية النظر أو الأدوية، أو تحويله إلى أخصائي طب العيون للحصول على علاج متقدم ومتخصص؛ طبي أو جراحي أو ليزري.
ويمكن لأخصائي فحص النظر إجراء جراحات بسيطة مثل إزالة جسم غريب من سطح العين.
انقر هنا لقراءة المزيد عن أخصائيوا النظارات.
لزيارة مكتبة الصور الامتحانية اضغط هنا.
لقراءة المزيد عن الآباء والأطفال ، انقر هنا.[:]

Medical Retina Clinics

[:en]The team in this service treats conditions at the back of the eye, which are treated medically using drugs, eye drops or lasers, and includes diabetic eye screening.
Conditions treated by clinicians in this service include age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, retinal blood vessel blockages and inflammation at the back of the eye (uveitis).[:ar]يتولى فريق العمل في هذه العيادة علاج الحالات المتعلقة بمشاكل الجزء الخلفي من العين، والتي يمكن علاجها طبياً باستخدام الأدوية أو قطرات العين أو الليزر. كما يوفر فحص العين لتحديد المشاكل الناتجة عن مرض السكري. وتتضمن المشاكل التي يتولى الطاقم الطبي في هذه العيادة علاجها كل من الضمور البقعي المرتبط بتقدم السن، والتهاب الشبكية الصباغي، واعتلال الشبكية الناتج عن مرض السكري، وانسداد الأوعية الدموية الشبكية، والالتهاب في الجزء الخلفي من العين (التهاب القزحية).[:]

Low Vision Aids

[:en]Where good vision cannot be achieved with spectacles or contact lenses, patients can be assessed in our low vision clinic.
During a low vision assessment, one of our optometrists will perform an examination to identify any refractive errors (problems with focusing) and demonstrate low vision devices such as specialist spectacles, magnifiers or telescopes that could help you see better.
Electronic magnifiers are also available for demonstration, and the optometrist will also talk to you about optimal lighting and other methods to make the most of your remaining vision.[:ar]عندما لا تتحسن قدرة الإبصار بواسطة النظارات أو العدسات اللاصقة، فإن بالإمكان تقييم حالة المرضى في عيادة علاج الرؤية المتدنية.
وخلال جلسة تقييم تدني قدرة الإبصار، يجري أحد أخصائيي فحص البصر لدينا فحصاً يهدف لتحديد وجود أي مشاكل انكسارية (مشاكل في قدرة تركيز الرؤية) وعرض الأجهزة التي تساعد في تقوية النظر مثل النظارات المتخصصة أو العدسات المكبّرة أو المناظير التي قد تساعدكم على الرؤية بشكل أفضل.
كما تتوفر العدسات المكبرة الإلكترونية ويعرضها أخصائي فحص البصر على المريض، كما سيحدثه حول الإضاءة المثالية وغيرها من الطرق التي تساعد المريض على الاستفادة إلى الحد الأقصى من قدرته الحالية على الإبصار.[:]