Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai Archives

Why the 3-D experience is not for everyone

[:en]2 August 2010 (Dubai, UAE): Three-dimensional (3-D) entertainment is now exploding across our cinema and television screens (and even laptop computers) transforming the viewing experience and creating a new wave of entertainment led by block buster movies such as Avatar. However, not everyone can enjoy the 3-D experience. According to the Royal College of Ophthalmology, approximately 2-3 per cent of the general population cannot perceive 3-D images because of the early onset of squint, or an eye problem that develops later in life.
The principle behind 3-D imaging is that we have binocular vision, with two eyes separated by a space of 2-3 inches, explains Dr Chris Canning, Medical Director of Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai: “This separation causes each eye to see the world from a slightly different perspective; when combined, this single image enables us to perceive depth and distance, and to see the world and media content in ‘3-D’. If there are multiple objects in our field of view, we can tell their relative distance. If you look at the world with one eye closed, you can still perceive distance, but your accuracy decreases and you have to rely on other visual cues.”
The brain combines these two images from our eyes into one composite image. “A simple way of testing this is to look at the same object with each eye covered alternately; the image shifts very slightly from eye to eye. In a cinema, the reason we wear 3-D glasses is to feed different images into our eyes.”
The cinema screen actually displays two images, and the glasses cause each image to enter a different eye. At many 3-D venues, the preferred method is to use polarized lenses because they allow color viewing. Two synchronized projectors project two views onto the screen, each with a different polarization. The glasses allow only one of the images into each eye because of the different polarization of the glasses.
“In order to see in 3-D we must have good vision in both eyes and they must work together simultaneously,” adds Dr Canning. “However, for people who have a vision misalignment or those who have severe eye conditions, viewing in 3-D is difficult – if not impossible.”
Some of the severe vision conditions which prevent people seeing in 3-D include amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed eye), convergence insufficiency (unable to maintain the correct alignment of the eyes for near targets) and diplopia (double vision).
For those of us lucky enough to be able to enjoy the miracle of 3-D technology, there is still a concern that watching 3-D entertainment can cause side effects, with claims that these can include headaches, dizziness, nausea and eye strain. According to Dr. Chris Canning: “3-D technology is a remarkable concept which has added depth and enjoyment to our viewing experience. Watching 3-D does not damage the eyesight; however, if any symptoms or side effects should appear and persist then it is recommended to visit an eye care professional.”
Contact: Jonathan Walsh/Vanessa Payne
WPR Limited
Dubai
050 4588610
[email protected]

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]

World No Tobacco Day 2012: May 31st

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Fact: Not smoking/stopping smoking is the single best way to preserve healthy eyes

28 May 2012 (Dubai, United Arab Emirates): Here’s another very good reason not to smoke or to stop smoking. We are all aware of the damage that smoking can do to the body but smoking is also the single most important lifestyle factor when it comes to eye health and protecting the eyes and the quality of your vision, according to a Dubai-based eye expert.
According to studies published in the British Medical Journal, cigarettes increase the chances of developing age-related macular degeneration and smokers are up to four times more likely to go blind in old age. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of adult blindness in the UK and results in severe and irreversible loss of central vision, especially in people over the age of 60.
According to the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) people fear losing their sight more than any other sense and so there is a need to create greater awareness of the link between smoking and the significantly increased risk of losing sight from AMD.
Dr Chris Canning, Medical Director at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, says: “The good news is that researchers also suggest that giving up smoking helps reduce the risk of AMD in later life. In addition to stopping smoking, what is important for long-term eye health is diet and rest. If you are experiencing unusual symptoms such as cloudy vision, blurred images, floating spots and loss of vision, head to an ophthalmologist to get them checked.”
Macular degeneration affects the macular at the back of the eye, impairing central vision. The macula is a small area in the centre of the retina. The retina is the layer at the back of the eye which is sensitive to light. When light enters the eye it passes through the clear cornea and lens at the front of the eye, and the vitreous (jelly like substance in the eye). The retina receives the images and passes them to the brain and this is how we see. The macula is the centre-most part of the retina where the light comes to a focus when you are looking at an object and where detailed vision takes place. The rest of the retina (peripheral) is responsible for side and night vision. The retina and macula rest on another layer at the back of the eye, which provides oxygen and nutrition to the retina and is responsible for clearing waste products.
Abnormalities in this area can cause macular degeneration either by blocking nutrition or causing blood vessels to grow under the retina; these blood vessels destroy structures around them as they grow. If the cells in the macula deteriorate then the central part of your field of vision (what you can see) becomes blurred.
www.moorfields.ae
Issued on behalf of MEHD by WPR.
Media Contact:
Jonathan Walsh
WPR
Dubai
Tel: 050 4588610
Email: [email protected]

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai appoints Mariano Gonzalez as the new Managing DirectorMoorfields Eye Hospital Dubai appoints Mariano Gonzalez as the new Managing Director

[:en]29 October 2012 (Dubai, United Arab Emirates): Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, (Moorfields) the first overseas branch of the world renowned Moorfields London eye hospital, has announced the appointment of Mr Mariano Gonzalez as its new Managing Director. Prior to taking up his new position at Moorfields, Mr Gonzalez was the Group Chief Operating Officer at Al Noor Hospital Group in Abu Dhabi.
Mariano Gonzalez held several senior positions in general management before moving into the healthcare sector in 2002. A Spanish national, he initially worked as Chief Operating Officer in the Canary Islands (Spain) before relocating to Abu Dhabi in 2008. He was appointed Hospital Director of Khalifa Hospital (Al Noor Hospitals) then became Group COO in 2011.
Commenting on the new appointment, Mr John Pelly, Chief Executive of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust, said: “Mariano Gonzalez is very well qualified to take on this important new management role within Moorfields and he brings extensive experience and an outstanding track record of achievement in the healthcare sector within the UAE to his new position. Mariano will continue the work of Dr Chris Canning who led the original project to establish Moorfields in Dubai and who led the team with great distinction for five successful years, following the launch in 2007. Mariano will lead the hospital through its next phase of development as we continue to expand and develop our services across the UAE.”
Mariano Gonzalez holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, Arizona, USA (2009). He was Principal Professor at the Business School San Pablo CEU, Madrid, Spain, from 2000-2003. He holds a number of professional memberships including Member of the American College of Healthcare Executive (ACHE), Chicago, USA (2006); Member of the Society for Healthcare Strategy & Market Development, American Hospital Association (2010).
Moorfields has treated more than 20,000 patients since opening in Dubai, in 2007.
Issued on behalf of MEHD by WPR.
Media Contact:
Jonathan Walsh
WPR
Dubai
Tel: 050 4588610
Email: [email protected]

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai appoints new Medical Director

[:en]1 November 2012 (Dubai, United Arab Emirates): Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, the first overseas branch of the world-renowned London eye hospital, has announced the appointment of Dr Clare Roberts MA (Cantab), BM BCh (Oxon), FRCOphth as the hospital’s new Medical Director. Dr Roberts, who trained at Moorfields London, joined the Dubai hospital in 2010 as Consultant Paediatric Ophthalmologist and Strabismus Surgeon. She assumes the role of Medical Director following the return to Moorfields London of Dr Chris Canning, who held the positions of CEO and Medical Director from the establishment of the hospital in 2006. Many of the hospital’s consultants are Moorfields London trained and all are based permanently in the UAE.
Dr Roberts is an experienced consultant ophthalmologist specialising in the assessment and management of children with eye problems, as well as the management of adults with strabismus (crossed eye). She studied medicine both at Cambridge and Oxford University and trained in the UK, acquiring the Fellowship of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, and completing her subspecialty training in paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus at Moorfields London. Prior to joining Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, Dr Roberts was a consultant at Imperial College NHS Trust in London, where she managed a large paediatric ophthalmology service including screening and treatment for retinopathy of prematurity. Dr Roberts has a research interest in amblyopia (lazy eye) and retinopathy of prematurity and has published work in paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus.
Commenting on the appointment, Mariano Gonzalez, who was recently appointed Managing Director at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, said: “Dr Roberts has been a highly valued member of the team of consultants at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai since 2010 and will provide an important point of continuity in Dubai. Her credentials are outstanding and she has the Moorfields London training that we value so highly, as well as the world class skills that have benefited the community and especially the children that we treat at the hospital. We congratulate her on this new appointment and have every confidence that she will continue to ably demonstrate the leadership qualities that will be important as the hospital expands and develops in the UAE.”
Issued on behalf of MEHD by WPR.
Media Contact:
Jonathan Walsh
WPR
Dubai
Tel: 050 4588610
Email: [email protected]

MOORFIELDS EYE HOSPITAL DUBAI MARKS FIVE SUCCESSFUL YEARS AND CONFIRMS LONG TERM COMMITMENT AS A PARTNER TO DUBAI HEALTHCARE CITY

[:en]15 October 2012 (Dubai, United Arab Emirates): In the presence of Chairperson of Dubai Healthcare City Authority Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai – the first overseas branch of the world famous London eye hospital – celebrated five successful years of treating patients in Dubai at an event hosted at the hospital and attended by VIPs, senior figures from the healthcare sector, and invited guests.
Founded in 1804, Moorfields Eye Hospital in London has pioneered eye care for more than 200 years. Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai is the first overseas branch and was officially inaugurated in Dubai by HRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, in 2007. The hospital has since treated more than 20,000 patients, many of them from the UAE, as well as from across the region, and played an active role in supporting the community.
On the occasion of the 5th anniversary, Moorfields expressed its gratitude for the support of DHCC and also outlined its own future plans to expand its clinical services within the UAE from the Dubai hospital, with an increasing emphasis on teaching and research.
Speaking at the celebratory event, Mr John Pelly, Chief Executive of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust, said: “We are delighted to share this occasion and to showcase these world class facilities in which Moorfields – and Dubai – can take great pride. Moorfields in the United Kingdom has a reputation and heritage developed over more than 200 years. The principal reason we wanted to come to Dubai was to offer our substantial expertise in eye care – through our world class specialists in London and Dubai – to the people of the United Arab Emirates and beyond but also to learn from this experience. Moorfields Dubai has grown steadily over these last five years and established a reputation for being one of the best eye care service providers in the region. We are very grateful for the active support of Dubai Healthcare City throughout this period and we are committed to being here for the long term, and so look forward to this continued successful collaboration.”
Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai was one of the first international healthcare providers with world-renowned credentials to set up at Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), the world’s first healthcare free zone, filling a significant gap with much-needed specialized services in ophthalmology, to cater to the UAE population which has a high incidence of diabetes and is prone to eye disease.
Dr Chris Canning, CEO and Medical Director of Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, added: “Dubai was clearly the best place for our new hospital and DHCC has proved to be the perfect host, attracting some of the world’s leading healthcare service providers and delivering high quality care and services to a growing international patient base. We have also played a role in supporting DHCC’s medical tourism development, treating patients from over 140 countries. DHCC has also allowed and encouraged us to develop research programs looking at genetic conditions that the UAE and the UK share, such as diabetes, which demands further action to prevent, to treat and to understand. We now look to the future and further expansion of our clinical services elsewhere in the UAE, alongside our teaching and research activities.”
Dr. Sehamuddin Galadari, Chairperson of DHCA’s Research & Education Committee, commented “Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai’s presence is testament to DHCC’s ability to attract top providers to Dubai, and we would like to thank the management team and staff for their support and collaboration. We are very proud of the eye hospital’s efforts in the area of research and training and wish them continued success in the region.” Dr Galadari is a member of the DHCA Board of Directors and a renowned advocate of medical education, training and research.
HRH Princess Haya also toured the purpose-designed and built hospital and inspected the world class facilities.
Moorfields has treated more than 20,000 patients since opening in Dubai, in 2007.
Issued on behalf of MEHD by WPR.
Media Contact:
Jonathan Walsh
WPR
Dubai
Tel: 050 4588610
Email: [email protected]

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai appoints new Medical Director

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 PCRF patient press release

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Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai treats young Palestinian patient in Dubai

23 December 2012 (Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) has referred a young patient to Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (Moorfields) – the Dubai branch of Moorfields Eye Hospital in London – for specialist eye treatment.
Anaghim lost her eye through a tumour when she was just a few months old and has undergone several surgeries as she has grown and the eye socket has developed.
An 11 year old girl, she is one of four children living with their parents in the Beach Refugee Camp in Gaza and needs surgery to replace an orbital implant. This procedure will allow her to have a permanent artificial eye fitted by the Hospital’s ocularist at a later date, after healing following the surgery.
Anaghim will have surgery in December by Dr Andrea Sciscio, an Oculoplastic Surgeon based permanently at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai. Three months following the surgery, once the socket has healed, it will be possible for the Hospital’s ocularist to craft and fit an artificial eye.
The PCRF UAE Chapter managed all the logistics to bring Anaghim to the UAE, including visas and travel arrangements; she is currently staying with her grandparents in the UAE.
Dr Andrea Sciscio, Consultant Oculoplastic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, comments: “The objective of this surgery is to allow Anaghim’s eye socket for the fitting of a new orbital ball implant, which fills the eye socket and maintains its shape and volume like a natural eyeball, over which we can fit a very natural looking Artificial Eye which can be produced to match precisely Anaghim’s real eye. It is important that we are able to provide this continuity of patient care here at the hospital, which is so critical to the outcome of the procedure and so will be monitoring her after the surgery and before the fitting of the artificial eye.”
Moorfields has already treated several serious eye cases for the PCRF patients since opening 5 years ago and the PCRF welcomed Moorfield’s continuing medical support for its work. Steve Sosebee, President and CEO of the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, commented: “On behalf of the PCRF, I would like to thank Moorfields for continuing to help the young people in Palestine who cannot get adequate medical care locally, and which makes such a difference to the quality of life for the patients and their families.”
The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund is a US based charity with chapters in several countries and has sent more than 60 injured and sick children to the UAE over the past five years, including twelve in 2012, for medical care that was not available to them in Palestine. PCRF has also worked with a number of national and international foundations including Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, The Little Wings Foundation and Slam Ya Sighar.
www.pcrf.net
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Notes to editors:

About the PCRF
The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund is a non-political, non-profit entity established in 1991 by concerned people in the United States to address the medical and humanitarian crisis facing Palestinian youths in the Middle East. The PCRF is registered as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization in the U.S., and in the U.A.E. it operates solely as an unincorporated network of committed supporters. PCRF – U.A.E. does not engage in any fund-raising activities without the formal approval of properly licensed local entities based in the U.A.E. www.pcrf.net
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. 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.
Issued on behalf of Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai by WPR.
Media contacts:
PCRF: Mazen Aloul, Media Coordinator, PCRF, M:+971 50 4626593, E: [email protected], W: http://community.pcrf.net/
http://pcrf.net/
Moorfields: Jonathan Walsh, WPR Limited, Dubai, +971 50 4588610, [email protected]

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai signs network agreement with MedNet UAE to extend access to world class specialist eye care and services across 17 additional insurance affiliates

[:en]14 May 2013 (Dubai, United Arab Emirates): Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (Moorfields), the first overseas branch of the world renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, and MedNet UAE FZ LLC (MedNet) – the managed care service provider which creates access to high quality healthcare – have reached an agreement under which Moorfields will join the network of healthcare providers accessible to 17 insurance partners of MedNet. As a result, Moorfields increases the number of its insurance affiliates and intermediaries to 35, and MedNet members will enjoy cashless access to Moorfields services at the point of treatment through the direct billing arrangement between Moorfields and MedNet.
As a result of the new agreement, more insured patients will now be able to access world class eye care services, consultations and treatment provided by Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, which opened in Dubai in 2007 and has since treated more than 26,000 patients, with the added benefit and convenience of pre-approved cover and direct billing. Moorfields has a growing team of eight specialist consultants based permanently in Dubai.
Commenting on the new agreement, Mariano Gonzalez, Managing Director of Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, said: “Moorfields is very pleased to sign this new agreement with MedNet, as it will help us extend access to our specialist services across a wider range of insurance company members in the UAE – an additional 17 health insurers, added to the 18 with whom we already work – and allow more patients to have easier access to services at the point of treatment. So, we can all focus on the medical care – consultation, diagnosis, treatment and follow up – rather than the administration. This can be a great reassurance to patients at what can be a stressful time for them and their families.”
Dr. Sukumara Prakash, General Manager of MedNet UAE, added “We are glad to welcome Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai to MedNet’s accredited list of healthcare providers and look forward to enhancing cashless access to specialized ophthalmic care for our members across this region. This is in line with MedNet’s strategy to continue to expand access to high-quality care for our members while making it affordable to the community we serve.”