Retina doctors in the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Department of Ophthalmology at Al Qassimi Hospital and under the patronage of the Ministry of Health and Prevention in the United Arab Emirates and in partnership with Bayer, successfully concluded the very first Gulf Retina Conference under the name iSee GRC (iSee Gulf Retina Conference) for medical professionals and retina experts in Arab Gulf nations in Dubai to deal with the requirement for a more collective technique ahead of time retinal care in the region. This initiative is the first of its kind for retina experts in the Middle East. Dr. Mohammed Al Omari, Chairman of the Conference and the Organizing Committee, Jamal Al-Kandari, Vice-President, and Dr. Ahmed Al Khashab, Chairman of the Scientific Committee, headed the conference.

Professionals from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan together with Gulf specialists talked about the advances in surgical and medical management approaches to retina care to more than 170 doctors from the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The inaugural event aims to bring together retina experts in the region to exchange understanding and experiences in addition to supply updates on the current surgical and medical retinal treatments.

Dr. Fatima Al Amiri, National Coordinator of Eye Health (Prevention of Blindness) MOHAP, stated: "The retina is an extremely fragile part of the eye that is vital in guaranteeing a person's intact vision. Without correct care and treatment, retinal obstruction and other conditions can cause visual impairment. This effort aims to advance the interaction and exchange of knowledge amongst retina professionals as part of the Ministry of Health and Prevention's program to deliver quality healthcare. Our supreme goal is to obtain happiness for clients in the UAE and the Gulf region."

Dr. Al Omari, Chairman of the Conference, said that retinal illness, especially diabetic retinopathy, prevail in the Gulf region. In fact, numerous Gulf States are among the top 10 countries with the highest case of diabetes, posing an obstacle to health authorities to come up with early detection programs and establish efficient treatment procedure and prevention.

Hany Sabry, Gulf Country Head, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, commented: "We thank the Ministry of Health & Prevention for their dedication to cause collaboration amongst retina professionals in the area and push for a more defined technique to much better eye care, specifically in the UAE and the Gulf countries. Retina care is an important location of concern for many eye patients particularly for those with persistent conditions that may trigger loss of vision. Retinal illness affect almost 16 million people around the world and we hope this collaboration will significantly contribute to a long-lasting solution for patients in the region."

Al-Kandari from Kuwait, the Deputy Chairman of the Conference, cautioned that diabetes results in eye swelling and loss of vision, therefore the need to arrange the event to enable stakeholders to find the latest in treatment techniques.

For his part, Dr. Al Khashab, Chairman of the Scientific Committee, provided the current restorative developments which can help improve the vision of people struggling with diabetic retinopathy. Injecting the drugs inside the liquid glass is thought about a clinical transformation in this area, which previously depends on laser treatment alone. It prevents the condition from weakening, laser treatment's outcome is only minimal.

The conference was organized by iSee Gulf Retina committee, a collaborative group of retina specialists which provides a platform for collaboration within the sector. It hopes to further build up the capabilities of healthcare providers, regulators, and doctors in addressing eye care through a series of initiatives such as a support group entity for retina specialists and a science-based group.