Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9570
ISSN: 2155-9570
Kadhim Alabady
Dubai Health Authority, UAE
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Clin Exp Ophthalmol
Background: The prevalence of sight loss increases with age and the Dubai population is ageing. In addition, there is a growing
incidence in key underlying causes of sight loss such as obesity and diabetes. This means, that without action, the number of
people with sight problems in the Dubai is likely to increase dramatically over the next 25 years.
Purpose: The purpose of the eye health needs assessment is to build a picture of current eye health services, i.e. a baseline and
to gather information in order to plan and change services for the betterment of eye health.
Method: In order to carry out eye health assessment we applied qualitative (focus groups with 20 ophthalmology experts) and
quantitative methodology (analyzing hospital, population health related surveys). Prevalence or incidence estimates based on
research from national and international documents. It is intended to help stakeholders discuss the scale of the issue locally.
Findings: A number of studies have shown that that rate of reported cataracts is around 2% on average. If these estimated
prevalence rates (2%) are applied to the population of Dubai (without adjustment), there may have been 47,716 people with
cataract across Dubai in 2015 of which: 33,145 would be males and 14,571 females. It was estimated around 9,144 residents
in Dubai aged 40 years or more in 2015 had glaucoma (of which 8,149 were OAG and 995 were ACG). It was estimated there
would be approximately 12,128 (95% confidence interval 9,639-15,001) adults aged 18+ years in 2015 suffering from diabetic
retinopathy at some stage. Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) seem to be a rare condition in Dubai and patients with
AMD are not often seen at private healthcare sectors, as it is most common among the older white population.
Kadhim Alabady is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health, UK. He holds a Doctorate degree in Public Health and Epidemiology, Master’s degree in Clinical Epidemiology (MSc), Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH), all from The Netherlands universities with broad experience driving Research and Development (R&D) strategies and operations. He has worked in Public Health since 1999 at different levels such as: Academic (Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Queen Marry University, London, UK); and University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich; International (United Nations); National Health Authority (Qatar); National Health Service.; Dubai Health Authority; and others. He is registered as an Epidemiologist Grade A with The Netherlands Epidemiological Society.