The University Medical Centre at the King Abdullah Medical City has resumed performing corneal transplant operations, marking a significant milestone in the Kingdom’s medical sector. The centre is now the first private medical institution in Bahrain to specialise in corneal transplantation, a procedure that is crucial for patients suffering from keratoconus, which is considered the most common eye disease in Bahrain.
On this occasion Dr Salman Hamad Al Zayani, CEO of the University Medical Centre, expressed his delight at the resumption of these delicate operations, which are carried out in cooperation with the Eye Bank in Florida, USA, which is renowned for its high-quality corneal donations that undergo rigorous laboratory tests to ensure that they are free of infectious diseases and meet the required medical specifications.
On her part, Dr Nada Al Youssef, Consultant in Eye Diseases and Surgery, Cornea and LASIK at the University Medical Centre, highlighted the importance of corneal transplantation in treating keratoconus, which is the most common reason for corneal transplantation in Bahrain. She explained that other reasons for corneal transplantation include permanent scarring of the cornea, opacity, fluid accumulation in the cornea, or infection of the cornea with the herpes virus.
Dr Al Youssef, who is also the Head of the Ophthalmology Department and Associate Professor at the College of Medicine and Medical Sciences at the Arabian Gulf University, stressed that complications following corneal transplantation are rare and almost negligible compared to other organ transplants. She further emphasised that corneal transplant surgeries are considered among the most successful organ transplant surgeries worldwide, as they enable patients to regain their sight and improve their quality of life.
She added that Keratoconus is a disease that affects young people, both males and females, causing a gradual decline in vision and ability to see clearly over time, mentioning that this surgical procedure enables patients to regain their sight and return to their daily lives with improved vision.
