Dubai - Moorfields reveals UAE School Vision Programme findings

Citation

(2010), "Dubai - Moorfields reveals UAE School Vision Programme findings", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 23 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2010.06223dab.007

Dubai - Moorfields reveals UAE School Vision Programme findings

Article Type: News and views From: International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Volume 23, Issue 4

Keywords: Paediatric eye care, Public health programmes, Quality improvement systems, Healthcare education

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (Moorfields) has launched a new program of presentations on pediatric eye care, in partnership with Johnson & Johnson Vision Care for around 40 eye care professionals from across the GCC. The first session took place in December last year and covered the management of pediatric ocular anomalies both from a medical and surgical perspective, and a review of contact lenses for children and teens. The session took place as Moorfields revealed the findings of its school Vision Programme in the UAE, which covered around 1,000 pupils.

Keith Wilken, Senior Orthopist at Moorfields gave a presentation titled Vision Screening in Pre School and School Aged Children. According to Keith, of the 982 children covered by the recent UAE School Vision Programme organised by Moorfields, 167 pupils (pupils) “failed” or required a referral to a professional: “The rate of vision related problems picked up by the programme was about the same as we see elsewhere around the world. The top three problems picked up by the programme were bilateral visual acuity, unilateral visual acuity, and strabismus (squint). The need for, and benefits of, vision screening for schoolchildren are clear and the professional programme we are running in partnership with The Vision Care Institute complements this extremely effectively”.

In addition to considering the typical pediatric ocular anomalies, the pediatric eye care program also reviewed the use of contact lenses by children and teens, drawing on the substantial experience of Johnson & Johnson.

Dr Razmig Knajian, Senior Manager of Professional and Medical Affairs for Johnson & Johnson Vision Care commented: “Contact lenses provide self-esteem benefits to children beyond simply correcting vision. They also improve their perception regarding physical appearance, social acceptance among friends, ability to play sports, confidence in academics (due to low spectacle satisfaction)”.

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care opened a professional education centre (The Vision Care Institute) for eye care specialists in Dubai Healthcare City in June 2008, so that eye care professionals from across the Middle East could learn more about the latest developments in the field under the leadership of top eye care professionals from within, as well as from outside, the region. The aim of THE VISION CARE INSTITUTE™ is to enhance patient satisfaction through innovative education and training programs,

Dr Chris Canning, CEO and Medical Director of Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, commented: “Training and the sharing of our extensive medical experience and knowledge with the regional professional eye care community is an important part of Moorfields’ role in the Middle East. We are very pleased to be working with Johnson & Johnson on this pediatric eye care programme at their excellent training facility at The Vision Care Institute in Dubai and believe that this training initiative will help make an important contribution to the development of professionals within the industry”.

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