His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed
bin Abdulaziz, Head of the Saudi Ophthalmological Society has inaugurated
yesterday afternoon events of Saudi Ophthalmology meeting in 2015, organized by
King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital and the Saudi Society of Ophthalmology in
partnership with the Department of Ophthalmology in Faculty of Medicine at King
Saud University, and that at King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh.
The Prince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz praised
the meeting of Saudi Ophthalmology, and his highness pointed that the meeting would be rich by what
it offers, as the program will include several specialized scientific sessions
in the field of ophthalmology and visual impairment prevention, the meeting
will discuss special medical issues related to cataract which is considered the
main cause of visual disability globally, locally and regionally, also the
meeting will discuss retinopathy resulting from diabetes, indicating that Saudi
Arabia unfortunately is one of the largest 11 countries which has patients of
diabetes in the world, but this has negative reflection on the eye and cause
significant problems.
In his speech at the ceremony, Dr. Abdul Ilah
Twairqi, General Executive Manager of King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital
explained that the number of patients who came to the hospital clinics during
2014 totaled 183.712 visits, and the number of major surgical operations
reached 11.453, and the number of laser operations and Minor processes reached
22.199, also the number of corneal transplant operations reached 884, and the
number of visits to the emergency department reached 35.449, the number of
research that provided this year reached 100 research and the number of what
was adopted reached 93 research.
Director of King Khalid Eye Specialist
Hospital pointed out that the hospital has recently conducted three stem cells
cultivation operations of the cornea, also the hospital graduated 20 of the
fellowship programs in Saudi Ophthalmology specialty approved by the Saudi
Commission for Health Specialties, totaling 22 doctors and physician, the
program until this year, graduated 273 physicians including 31 physicians from
the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have fellowship degree in subspecialties of
ophthalmology.
During the opening, Dr. Ali Alkhairy
Ophthalmology consultant and representative of ophthalmology in the Western
Region has received (outstanding performance Shield) which one Ophthalmology
representatives of the regions of the Kingdom won each year, also (Prince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin
Abdulaziz shield to combat blindness) has been received by Professor Sheila
West from Johns Hopkins University, supervisor of the Wilmer Research Center
for Ophthalmology in the United States, which have made valuable contributions
in research and programs to combat visual disability.
It is noteworthy that the events of the Saudi
Ophthalmology meeting in 2015 were held at the King Fahd Cultural Center and
lasts for four days, with the participation of 21 visitors international
professors of from Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany,
Denmark, Belgium and Italy, in addition to the 82 speaking doctors from the
kingdom, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and various Arab countries.