Vision Loss

Vision is the one thing that we all fear losing the most, when it comes to our senses. We may know of someone who lives independently although he or she are blind and wonder if being independent is even possible, after you lose your sight. As technology to prevent blindness moves steadily forward, there are still a few eye conditions that does affect your vision partially, or fully over time.
Knowing that you or someone you care for, is experiencing depreciating vision can be both scary and frustrating, not knowing how life will change when and how. As scary as losing your vision is, early preparation and arrangements can help you overcome certain difficulties when seeing becomes extremely difficult.
The first steps to preparing for loss of vision is to first prolong complete blindness by as much as possible. To do this consult your eye specialist at Ebsaar who will guide you on the steps you will need to take depending on the condition.
Usual precautionary steps will entail wearing sun glasses with a good UV protection base coat to prevent further damage to light sensitive cells in the eye. Additionally, you will be advised to wear your reading glasses when reading printable works or working on the computer. Eyestrain will force any condition, no matter how small, to worsen faster. Additionally, you may be asked to perform certain eye exercises to help in movement and focus. This will only help those with some visual conditions, but not with diseases like macular degeneration, which is a disease related to the internal structure of the eye.
As your vision depletes, you may first need to accept it emotionally, which is the hardest step to accomplish. You may experience feelings of anger, deception, emotional trauma. In this case, it would be advised to talk to family, and even a specialist counsellor, who is better able to help you deal with the circumstance. The good news is that, although your vision quality is depreciating daily, you will be able to live a normal a life as possible with help from loved ones and proper life style changes and care.
The main step in preparation is a career change. Depending on the career you are in, it might be possible to make arrangements to continue working may be from home, or with the help of an assistant. It is also important that you receive unconditional support from your family, while you make the transition from visually able to blind.
Start practicing early. Know where everything is at home, and ask your family to ensure they leave things as they are, or in their proper place for you to find. This will give you independence while at home, and you won’t feel completely helpless. As hard as it may be, wearing a blindfold around the house for hours each day, will allow you to become familiar with feeling for items than seeing them. Learn to read Braille. Braille is a simple system developed in France, which uses 6 positions in a rectangular box to distinguish each alphabet of the English language. Learning Braille is easy even for the blind, but it is much more easier for one who can still see reasonably well.
Losing sight due to old age, or medical condition is scary and certainly not something that anyone who is not blind can relate to. However, with proper care, lengthy and detailed planning, & preparation; you will be able to live a normal independent life, just like anybody else. If you fear losing your vision or need help seeing, visit Ebsaar Eye Surgery Clinic, led by Dr. Hani Sakla to receive professional eye care advice and blindness prevention treatment options from the very best in Dubai eye care.

lazy Eye Treatment

Lazy eye is present in children at birth, when the vision in one eye, does not develop as well as the other. Amblyopia is treatable if caught early, but the symptoms of which may not be apparent immediately. When the brain receives two distinguishable images from the eyes, it learns to ignore one over the other; favouring the clearer unobstructed image. This phenomenon causes one eye to move incoherently with other.
There are varying causes for amblyopia, which obstruct vision in one eye. One can develop extremely near or farsightedness, while the other provides a 20/20 sight. Another cause is Strabismus, where one eye physically, moves either outward or inwards, relating two different images back to the brain. Astigmatism or early childhood cataracts also leads to lazy eye syndrome.
The brain is programmed to receive identical images from both eyes. When one eye sends a different image from the other, the brain disregards one image in an attempt to make sense of what it is seeing. The neglected eye will stop functioning, and partial or complete blindness will result if proper treatment is delayed.
In the case of strabismus or a squint, a diagnosis is as easy as noticing the different eye movements. However, in many cases, the lazy eye takes time to develop and diagnosis and treatment may take place too late. It is the general recommendation that all babies have their vision tested by a paediatric doctor or general physician who will perform eye tests at three months and then two years.
Your children eye doctor will screen the eyes and vision to ensure that light travels to the back of the eye unobstructed, that both eyes see equally well, and the screening will ensure that both eyes moves together properly.
In the case of Strabismus, and vision obstruction like a blood clot, lazy eye is treated by forcing the weak eye to work, while the normal eye is closed for a set period, usually from a few weeks to a few months. A patch re-trains the brain to use the images from the lazy eye, strengthening the eye muscles, and sharpening the vision. The period of treatment can vary for each patient depending on the severity of the condition and how far along the condition has progressed at the time of diagnosis. For cataracts and astigmatism, an eye patch is combined with prescription glasses or contacts lenses, until the patient is old enough for surgery if desired.
Ebsaar Eye Surgery Center is experienced in lazy eye treatment Dubai since its inception. Our highly experienced ophthalmologist Dubai Dr. Hani Sakla heads our Clinic specializing in eye care and vision loss prevention in Dubai. Contact us today to have your child's eyes tested early on and prevent the onset of lazy eye.

Blepharitis In Dubai

Ebsaar Eye Surgery Center sees many people who experience problems with vision and physical discomfort of the eye. A very common eye condition is the itchy, swollen, red eye that is symptoms of Blepharitis. Blepharitis is commonly noted by inflamed eyelids caused by bacteria found excessively on the skin. When this bacteria combines with the oil from the eyelids, it causes discomfort prompting the person the scratch the eyes for relief.

The eyes have their own lubricating gland called the meibomian gland on the eyelids. This gland can become blocked and infected which a common cause for dry eyes. The symptoms will progress to excessive tearing, redness and the eyelids will become scaly, dry, and red. The meibomian gland is affected by a hormone imbalance in the body and therefore cannot be directly treated. However, the symptoms of Blepharitis are managed by the patient and the Dubai eye care doctor through specific routines and good eye care.

Symptoms of Blepharitis

The blockage of the meibomian gland can lead the feeling that something is lodged in the eye. The eyes will feel warm or you may experience a burning sensation and experience sensitivity to light. The eyelids will become red and swollen and this may cause your eyelashes to fall off. Additionally, the eyes will tear excessively and have bouts of dryness and itchiness.

How is Blepharitis Treated?

Blepharitis is not cured but the symptoms are treated and managed with proper eyelid hygiene. If the condition is left untreated, the symptoms will progress on to cause severe eye infection. Should you experience these symptoms continuously see an eye care specialist in Dubai immediately to prevent further discomfort of the eye. Here are some steps that you could follow at home to keep your eyes clean and infection free:

• Always keep your hair away from the eyes. Loose falling hair will cause more irritation to the eye.
• Always wash hands before touching the eye
• Dab a warm, clean, washcloth in a diluted solution of baby shampoo and using your index finger, wipe the eyelids clean. The baby shampoo is safe and chemical free and will provide immediate relief by cleaning the eyelids effectively. Rinse thoroughly and dry the eye using another clean washcloth.

Medical treatment

Your eye doctor will prescribe artificial tears to wash the eyes out for mild forms of Blepharitis. Additionally, antibacterial solutions help fight the bacteria and your doctor may suggest draining out the infected oil with a procedure known as LipiFlow. This is a short treatment that gently “milks” out the infection from the meibomian gland.

Prevention of Blepharitis

If you are affected by the condition, it is advised to keep your hands clean, avoid rubbing your eyes too often and follow good eye care hygiene as required. Additionally, it is advisable to avoid wearing eye make as the chemical ingredients can further irritate the eyes. If makeup is a requirement, do not share your eye makeup with anybody else and always make sure the products used have not passed the expiry dates. Those who wear reusable contact lenses should take extra measures to ensure the contact lenses are cleaned well.

If the symptoms progress for more than three days make an appointment to see an eye specialist immediately at Ebsaar Eye Surgery Clinic for proper medical attention.

AMD Treatment Dubai

Any condition related to the eye can be a cause for great concern, regardless of the severity of the problem. There are a few common eye diseases that affect people over the age of fifty-five one of which is macular degeneration. It is sometimes referred to as AMD or Age-related macular degeneration.

AMD is responsible for a third of the world population of blindness, affecting the back area of the eye, the macula which is a part of the retina. This part allows us to see clarity and distinguish between features and details. When this part degenerates, our vision will become blurred and fuzzy. Complete blindness is a very rare occurrence although it is not to be disregarded either.

Macular degeneration can affect one or both eyes at varying speeds. Some individuals will notice a gradual loss in the clarity of their vision over time, and some will notice their quality of vision depreciating much faster than expected. If you have a family history of macular degeneration, it is best to have your eyes tested for the condition regularly at Ebsaar Eye Surgery Centre as regularly as frequently as every two years. Habits such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption could cause the condition to progress faster and prematurely than expected and it is therefore advised that those with the risk of AMD, avoid these substances.

People who are affected by the condition find it difficult to drive and recognize familiar faces. Detailing might be lost and instead you may see blobs of the object or person rather than a clear image. Depending on the severity of the condition, your eye surgeon will decide on an appropriate treatment plan for you. This may include dietary changes, lifestyle changes, prescription glasses or surgery. Although surgery is usually the last resort as it involves the very delicate section of the eye.

Regular eye exams at Ebsaar Eye Surgery Centre can help you identify the risks factors present and help you decide on early treatment and prevention. An eye exam at the Dubai Eye Clinic by Dr. Hani Sakla, will be a thorough examination to identify a few things pertaining to the health of your eyes and vision. A detailed eye exam will include some of the following:

• The Dilation test allows your eye specialist to look inside the eye. You will be given an eye drop that will widen the pupil just enough for the doctor to look inside the eye using a special magnifying instrument. This will allow him a clear view of the macula and the optic nerve. Should degeneration be present, it will be obvious with this test.
• Your visual acuity is measured using a general eye chart. Your vision clarity is measured at various distances allowing the doctor to stipulate the AMD risks that you may have.
• The last test is where a natural dye is injected into the eye to check if the eye has any damaged blood vessels. The dye usually clears out within a few hours.
• The Amsler grid is used to track changes present in your central vision.

The health of your macular can be determined with the help of these tests. Early detection of AMD will help you maintain healthy vision in Dubai and possibly prolong the onset of Age-related Macular Degeneration. If you are above the age of fifty-five, or have a family history of AMD, or are a heavy smoker it is best to have the AMD tests done regularly which will help you maintain your vision for longer.

Astigmatism Dubai

Astigmatism is a common eye condition sometimes present at birth and sometimes is a result of injury or other eye diseases. It is a physical disfigurement of the eye’s surface causing blurred vision. The condition is identified by the absence of a smooth curvature of the cornea or lens. The rough surface causes a person’s vision to become distorted and inaccurate.

Valleys and peaks will be present on the cornea or the lens. The unevenness displaces light improperly away from the retina, which causes vision to become distorted and unclear. The condition is not worsened by a person’s life style, and therefore contrary to popular belief, reading into the night or watching a lot of television has no effect on the disease.

Astigmatism causes other symptoms too. Eyestrain, headaches, and bad vision. These symptoms are common with other refractive errors such as near and farsightedness, and hence goes undetected until an optometrist or an ophthalmologist examines the eye. If caught early, mild forms of Astigmatism is corrected with specially made glasses or contact lenses.

There are two types of Astigmatism, one that affects the cornea, and the other that affects the lens of the eye. As it would be understood, it is easier to treat corneal astigmatism than it is to treat Lenticular Astigmatism with external corrective measures. LASIK surgery Dubai, would be more suited for treating the latter.  

The eyes are meant to have smooth perfectly rounded surfaces without abnormal shapes or structures to refract light on to the retina properly. Light beams reaching elsewhere is not detected by the optic nerve. When the cornea or lens presents steeper ridges and low-lying valleys, similar to what a scoop of ice cream looks like, it will distort a person’s vision immensely.

Rigid contact lenses are more effective in treating corneal astigmatism, as they are hard and force the imperfections into a smooth curved shape. Prescription glasses counteract blurred vision, and a combination of glasses and rigid contact lenses, will see the condition improve. Astigmatism is a physical disfigurement of the eye and therefore corrective eye surgery is able to give immediate results to patients.

Astigmatism is diagnosed by an eye doctor using a Kerotoscope; a device that measures the orientation of the refracted light. Once the diagnosis is complete, it will be up to the patient to decide the preferred method of treatment based on the Doctors advice.

Ebsaar provides all types of treatment for this common eye condition from corrective glasses, contact lenses, and LASIK Surgery in Dubai. If astigmatism causes severe blurred or distorted vision hampering normal daily activities even with glasses, LASIK surgery is able to remove the disfigurements present on the cornea and lens, reversing refractive error. LASIK surgery is now considered one of the most trusted and safe eye treatment options for various visual conditions.

What is an Eye exam in Dubai?

An eye exam is full evaluation of your vision and eyes. It is different from seeing an optician who will only check your visual acuity. A full eye exam is done by either an optometrist or an ophthalmologist, using numerous techniques and devices to determine the health of both your eyes.

The eyes are of paramount importance to live a carefree life, but they are also easily affected by internal and external factors. Diabetes, high blood pressure, a family history of glaucoma or age related macular degeneration, and your lifestyle determines the health of your eyes and vision.

It is important that you see your ophthalmologist, or optometrist regularly to detect and avoid serious conditions related to the eye. For young children, its best to have them tested at least twice before they turn six: once at the age of two and then again before they attend grade one. Teenagers will need to get an eye exam in Dubai once every two years, and adults every four or five years. People over the age of 60 should have a yearly exam as they are prone to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma.

Regular eye exams helps diagnose conditions early, and may even help you avoid complicated surgery later on.

A general eye exam will check eyesight, peripheral vision, colour blindness, examine the structure of the eye for any abnormalities, and for any sign of retinal disorders, AMD, cataracts, and glaucoma.

A paediatrician will check the vision of infants and toddlers and look for common problems like lazy eye, crossed eyes, and squints. It is advised to do a follow up examination by the time he or she reaches five years of age. Children are prone to depreciating eyesight, especially if they are constantly on the computer, playing video games and watching TV. Furthermore, most children are not fond of fruits and vegetables, which contain most or all the nutrients needed for good vision.

Teenagers who use laptops and computers, play video games, or play outdoors in the sun without protective eyewear are exposed to ultra violet radiation, which damages the eye significantly over time. It is good practice to check the eyes of teenagers more frequently like once every two years.

Whether you wear prescription glasses or not, adults should have their eyes checked every four or five years. Conditions like high blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol affect the health of your eyes and should any of these conditions be present, your eyes must be checked more often.

Your eye exam will consist of different stages where your vision, colour vision, outer surface, and inner structures are systematically checked for any abnormalities. Each eye is checked individually and your Dubai eye doctor discusses the results with you in detail. Should you require treatment or need preventive care to avoid problems, you eye doctor will relate the options available to you.

If you were contact lenses or prescription glasses, bring them along to your appointment, as your doctor will confirm their correct prescription.

Eye Doctor in Dubai

Some people experience corneal erosion of the eye. This mostly occurs in the mornings when the eye lids become stuck to the top most layer of the eye, called the epithelial layer. The epithelial layer loses its grip on the cornea due to eye injury, unhygienic contact lenses, eye ulcers, and eye diseases, such as corneal dystrophy.

Anybody can suffer from this condition as it is connected to other diseases and people who use contact lenses regularly are especially prone to this condition. Wearing contact lenses for long periods of time, not using the proper cleansing liquid and wearing them the wrong way, can cause corneal erosion. Corneal erosion is also a symptom of herpes and occurs after ulcers in the eye. All these conditions leads to the dryness, and then excessive tearing, which causes the epithelial cells to become fused to the eyelids during the night, when the eyes remain closed for long hours. Opening the eyes in the morning will be slightly painful causing a stinging sensation. The pain comes from the epithelial layer tearing off. The phenomenon is similar to removing temporary sticker tattoos off the skin.

The slight stinging may last for a few hours in the morning along with excessive tearing, As the protective sheet becomes dislodged, the patient will feel a constant presence of a foreign particle in the eye. If the symptoms are experienced daily, coupled with redness, excessive tearing, dry eyes, you may be experience the condition of corneal erosion.

Diagnosis

Corneal erosion is diagnosed simply by shining a bright sheet light on to the front of the eye. If corneal erosion is present the tears will be visible to your Dubai Ophthalmologist. Some eye doctors will introduce a fluorescein stain, which is a yellow coloured harmless liquid that highlights any defects on the surface of the eye. If indeed the epithelial layer is damaged it will be easily noticeable to your eye doctor in Dubai.

Treatment

There are two types of treatment levels for corneal erosion; non-invasive medications and surgery. Symptoms are most prevalent in the morning, and therefore your doctor will first prescribe hydrating eye drops to be used during the night. This will treat only mild cases of the condition. If the problem persists, it is referred to as recurrent corneal erosion. Artificial tears will prevent your eyelids from sticking to the surface of the eyeball. Some patients will use this during the day as well if the conditions are severe. Protective contact lenses are prescribed as eye bandages, which will keep the epithelial in place. Eye patches are used to prevent infection.

If artificial teardrops, eye patches and the contact lenses do not work, your ophthalmologist will recommend surgery, which entails light scarring of the epithelial layer with a fine needle. The minute cuts are done at the bottom of the eyeball forming scar tissue. The scar tissue acts as an abrasive that holds the epithelial layer in place.

Ebsaar Eye Surgery Centre is a medical centre that specializes in diagnostics and treatment of problems relating to the eye. Everybody does experience some amount of epithelial tears, but it not noticeable and generally only occurs with dead epithelial cells that naturally fall off and cling to the surface of the eye. However if the problem persists, causing pain or a stinging sensation on consecutive mornings, it is advised that you make an appointment with a specialist Dubai eye doctor at Ebsaar Eye Surgery Center. Early detection and cure will help you avoid more serious treatment like surgery.