As part of its continuing medical education programme, Doha’s Al Ahli Hospital will hold an ophthalmic conference on corneal and retinal surgery and glaucoma tomorrow.
Dr Alexander Bialasiewicz AND Dr Katarina Breidenbach
It is targeted at all interested doctors in Qatar and registration is free of charge.
Consultant ophthalmologist surgeon Dr Alexander Bialasiewicz will talk on Vitreoretinal diseases, in particular those related to the Middle East.
Diabetes and trauma are the most frequent preventable indicators of the requirement for Vitreoretinal surgery. Dr Bialasiewicz said diabetes is the most frequent cause of new cases of blindness.
In a hospital statement, Dr Maha el-Shafei said that in Qatar, diabetic retinopathy has been estimated at 23% in the 40+ age group, with only 20% of the affected having had laser treatment, and even less having VEGF blocker injections or vitrectomy.
“From our study of more than 800 vitrectomies, surgical outcomes are good for haemorrhage (bleeding into the eye) and strict diabetes control but are limited when diabetes is uncontrolled.
“In contrast, trauma cases occur mostly in the active years of life. They receive early treatment and the overall results data is good except for cases treated with complementary medicines by patients themselves.”
At the conference, consultant ophthalmology and keratorefractive surgeon Dr Katarina Breidenbach will focus on the revolution of corneal surgery by Femtosecond lasers, and future developments.
Ophthalmology specialist Dr Hynd Touaibia will elaborate on glaucoma, the syndrome frequently found in the Middle East and the North African region.Glaucoma is a multifactorial blinding disease, associated with high intra-ocular pressure, which results in severe and irreversible damage of the optic nerve, a part of the brain.
Dr Touaibia commented: “In parts of the Mena (Middle East and North Africa) region more than 50% of surgical glaucoma and half of the cataract populations have pseudo-exfoliation.”
Al Ahli Hospital medical director Dr Abdul Azim Abdul Wahab Hussain said the hospital’s ophthalmology department is one of its newest departments and the hospital is keen to provide continuing medical education to the doctors of Qatar and thereby increase their knowledge in the latest in medicine.
Doctors who are interested to participate in this event are requested to contact Joanne Rico on 44898797.
