Young Emirati patient finds hope for the future through his new artificial eye

10 May 2009 (Dubai, UAE): *A 22 year old Emirati (‘Ahmed’ - not his real name) has become the first patient at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai to be fitted with an artificial eye, after first seeking treatment in the US and then Germany. ‘Ahmed’ had been blind in one eye from birth and then subsequently injured his blind eye in an accident in 2001.

Specialists working at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai first surgically removed the damaged eye, prepared the socket and then crafted and fitted a handmade artificial eye which perfectly matches his remaining natural eye. The patient is delighted with the results, having first sought international treatment for his condition four years ago, after many years of pain.

'Ahmed’ says: "I hesitated to have such sensitive treatment in the UAE and looked for international options in the US, where I initially went, and then Germany. I found out about Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and when I contacted them they explained about the new Moorfields hospital at Dubai Health Care City. Once I met the team in Dubai, I realized that I could get the same standard of treatment here in the UAE."

The specialist surgery was performed by Moorfields Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Dr Andrea Sciscio, working with the Ocularist, Paul Geelen. Artificial eyes take several weeks to fit, starting with the socket, the orbital implant which fits into the socket, and then finally the eye itself. The aim is to create the right fit for the patient’s eye socket and then to match the natural eye, right down to form, colour and even the veins.

Ocularist Paul Geelen, one of a small number of specialists worldwide working in the field of artificial eyes, met ‘Ahmed’ in Dubai during one of his regular visits to Moorfields, and was able to fit him quickly with a temporary artificial eye. Paul then subsequently worked on a tailor-made artificial eye, which he made by hand and then painted by hand to match precisely the natural eye.

Paul, who works with his sister and is a second generation Ocularist, comments: “Our aim is to create a hand crafted eye with a very natural look that is indistinguishable from the real eye. With a little adjustment for size and colour, this patient’s eye will be an excellent match. These acrylic artificial eyes are very strong, easy to maintain and provide long comfortable wear and so the result will be a significant improvement for the patient.

“The removal of a natural eye – even if it is blind – and the fitting of an artificial eye can be a traumatic and emotional process for a patient,“ explains Paul Geelen. "However, the results that we can achieve working with a skilled surgeon at Moorfields and using modern techniques and materials, means that in most cases we can recreate the look of the natural eye and give the patient a very positive outcome."

‘Ahmed’ agrees: "Life is much, much better with the artificial eye; I used to be embarrassed when going out with friends but now I am much more confident and it is very difficult to see that it is an artificial eye."

Media contact:
Jonathan Walsh
WPR
Dubai
Tel: 050 4588610
Email: jon@wprme.com

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