Glaucoma threatens to blind more in the UAE

World Glaucoma Day on March 12, 2009, aims to raise awareness of the condition, and Dr Ali Dabbagh of Imperial Healthcare Institute in Dubai Healthcare City explains more needs to be done in the UAE to tackle the disease.

He says, "Glaucoma causes one in five cases of blindness worldwide. Unfortunately it can have no obvious symptoms and affects peripheral vision, which can lead to irreversible blindness if left untreated."

"Glaucoma is often a direct result of diabetes, which affects one in five UAE residents and 25% of UAE nationals, and this makes it even more crucial to get the eyes checked for glaucoma in this part of the world. Screening is incredibly important as visual loss need never occur if the diagnosis is made early. The tests are quick, simple and inexpensive and almost all forms of glaucoma are preventable or controllable if caught early," he added.

"High-risk individuals, those above the age of 40 who are severely near or farsighted, have a family history of glaucoma, suffer from diabetes or high blood pressure or have been on long-term steroid use, should consult professionals for an eye examination at least once a year," Dabbagh said.

People who contract glaucoma can lose their sight within five years if left unmanaged. Glaucoma can affect those who have both high and low eye pressure although previously only high eye pressure was believed to be a factor related to the disease.

RK, a career lady in early fifties, presented at Dr Dabbagh's clinic to be checked for glaucoma due to a rapid deterioration in vision and was quickly diagnosed with the disease. RK, who was also severely short-sighted, had suffered from migraines when she was young and her mother had suffered from glaucoma.

"These factors, despite her normal eye pressure, put RK in the high risk category," Dabbagh says.

RK said, "I have visited the doctor for regular check-ups since 2000, but the disease quickly crept up on me within the first half of 2008 and I experienced a quick deterioration in my vision."

RK was treated immediately with medication to prevent her condition from deteriorating and she retains the best part of her vision to this day.

Dr Dabbagh added, "Glaucoma is a horrific disease. But if we can discover it early and treat it before getting to the irreversible stage where the optic nerve becomes permanently damaged, we can conquer it."

Dr Ali Dabbagh has practised as a surgeon and ophthalmologist for over 27 years in the UK, Kuwait and Dubai. An eye specialist, Dr Dabbagh has recently returned from Gaza, where he screened and reviewed eye casualties and he plans to bring some of these victims to Dubai for further management.