DOHA: Latest developments in eye care were discussed at the third Qatar Ophthalmology Conference hosted by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).
It also featured the Uveitis Advanced Course of the Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO), in association with the International Ocular Inflammation Society (IOIS).
The conference aimed to advance the quality of eye care and ophthalmology education and research in the region through dissemination of latest knowledge by experts.
Uveitis is a group of inflammatory diseases that produces swelling and destruction of tissues in the eye and can lead to severe and permanent loss of vision if left untreated.
It often affects the uvea, the middle layer of the eye which contains much of the eye’s blood vessels, but may also affect other parts of the eye.
The condition is caused by inflammatory responses inside the eye to infections, injuries or autoimmune disorders.
Dr Zamzam Al Baker, Uveitis Senior Consultant at HMC’s Ophthalmology Department, said the department had conducted a study on all uveitis patients at HMC’s Uveitis Clinic from March 2007 to February 2011.
“Causes were determined in 67 percent of patients, which represents a good figure compared to other studies worldwide on the disease,” she said.
The main causes found were infectious diseases (tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis and herpes viruses) and systemic diseases.
“This research is the second comprehensive review of the causes of uveitis in a GCC country, after a study in Saudi Arabia,” said Dr Al Baker.
She said ocular trauma and glaucoma are common eye problems in Qatar and the conference offered workshops that would help doctors understand latest advances in patient care.
“Through the conference, participants from Qatar and the region had an opportunity to learn from regional and international experts during scientific sessions and workshops involving all aspects of ophthalmology,” said Dr Fatima Al Mansouri, Senior Consultant and Head of HMC’s Ophthalmology Department, and the conference president.
“The conference committee has developed a scientific programme that covers cutting-edge developments in the diagnosis and management of uveitis and related conditions. The IOIS is delighted to support the programme as it is in line with our goal of disseminating recent advances in the field to ophthalmologists all over the globe,” said Professor Narsing Rao, IOIS President, and Professor of Ophthalmology and Pathology, University of Sothern California’s Eye Institute in the US.
The Peninsula
