The Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has reported a dramatic rise in the number of eye injuries suffered by children and young adults in Qatar, with more than 50 cases of ocular injuries being treated at the ophthalmic emergencies daily.
The HMC is focusing on this issue at its second Qatar Ophthalmology Conference which begins at Al Sharq Village and Spa today. The conference will also explore ways to create public awareness to prevent eye injuries at construction sites, schools and at the work place.
“In the last four years, we have seen a tremendous increase in eye injuries suffered by young people. Some of them require urgent surgical intervention. So the focus of this conference is to preview the most updated medical and surgical treatment for eye injuries affecting different parts of the eye,” said Dr Osman Mohamed, Ophthalmology Surgeon at HMC and Coordinator of the conference.
HMC statistics have also revealed that the age group between six and 35 years is most at risk of suffering these serious eye injuries, which can cause irreversible vision loss.
“The social and financial implications of a young population suffering from vision loss are very high. Our aim through the conference is to create a wider awareness among the medical fraternity as well and to inform them on the epidemiology of ocular trauma in Qatar,” added Osman.
The Ophthalmology Department at HMC is conducting more than 200 surgical interventions every month including traumatic cases.
Plans are underway to open a fully advanced operation theatre at Rumailah Hospital, which will specifically deal with the increased number of cases needing surgical intervention of the eye.
The three-day conference will see presentations and lectures from international eye experts from different parts of the world including the US, Europe, Middle East and GCC in addition to speakers from HMC.
The Ophthalmology conference will have dedicated sessions each day, which will deal at length on the various issues related with ocular trauma and how best to prevent it.
The Peninsula