At Home with Dr Christian Jessen - 146

EXPERT
EYECARE
GUIDE

PROMOTION

MEET THE
EXPERT

Mr Mahi Muqit
PhD FRCOphth
is a consultant
vitreoretinal surgeon at
the world-renowned Moorfields
Eye Hospital in London

ACHIEVE A
CLEAR VISION
Macula problems can be banished with technological advances

entral vision is damaged by
structural changes in the
macula, and often associated
with cataracts in patients over
50 years of age. The retina is the
'light-seeing layer' at the back of the
eye and the macula (the central part
of the retina) is responsible for your
central vision and colour vision.

Epiretinal membrane (scar tissue) and holes
in the macula disrupt the fine detail of what we
see, and objects and faces appear distorted
and blurred. Cataracts form as the natural lens
clouds and thickens. Reading and driving vision
suffers, and with macular problems, vision
can be disabling and colours washed out.

HOW CAN THIS BE TREATED?

Consultant vitreoretinal surgeon, Mr Mahi
Muqit works with pioneering new treatment
modalities and carries out minimally traumatic
surgery that provides high quality visual results
for his patients. The latest 25-gauge and 27
-gauge Minimally Invasive Vitrectomy Surgery
(MIVS) is used to remove the vitreous gel with
self-sealing micro-incisions. The surgery is
painless, takes about 20 minutes, and recovery
after MIVS is much faster than conventional
surgery - with less pain and swelling.

PIONEERING SURGERY

In 2014, Mr Muqit was the first surgeon at
Moorfields Eye Hospital, London to perform
Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery
(FLACS) combined with vitrectomy surgery.
The cataract was melted with laser, removed

cleanly, and a new customised lens implanted
in its place. During macula surgery, the
micro-thin membranes are peeled permanently
from the macula's surface. This new approach
of laser-assisted cataract surgery with 'microkeyhole' MIVS ensures that complications are
rare and unlikely to happen, and gives the
patient a greater chance of preserving vision.
Patients are only required to rest for 24
hours after undergoing this surgery, and the
FLACS enables a faster healing period.

ANY ALTERNATIVES
TO SURGERY?

If the vitreous gel is pulling on the central part of
the macula, a condition known as vitreomacular
traction (VMT) may develop with blurring of
central vision or distortion. The next stage is
the formation of a tiny hole in the central
macula and then the central vision can suffer.
In patients where these conditions have not
naturally resolved over time, they can benefit
from a single injection of a new treatment
known as intravitreal Jetrea (Ocriplasmin). This
Catalys Precision
Laser Cataract
Surgery System

Mr Muqit is also an honorary clinical
lecturer at the Institute of Ophthalmology,
based in London, and one of the leading
retinal surgeons on Harley Street, London.
During his PhD, Mr Muqit studied
pioneering retinal Pascal laser
techniques using the multispot laser
photocoagulator that have transformed
the laser treatment for patients with
diabetic eye disease. Mr Muqit has
published over 50 articles in scientific
journals and is a winner of the
European Society of Ophthalmology
Young Ophthalmologist Award.
His special interests are floaters,
macular degeneration, femtosecond
laser-assisted cataract surgery, macular
hole surgery, retinal detachment surgery,
vitrectomy surgery, vitreomacular
traction, and diabetic eye disease.

drug liquefies the vitreous gel and releases the
vitreous gel from the surface of the macula.
Symptoms and vision can significantly improve
within four weeks without the need for surgery.

CAN I HAVE LASER
THERAPY?

The most common macular and retinal condition
that is treated with laser is diabetic retinopathy.
Mr Muqit is a global expert on diabetic
retinopathy and advises non-government
organisations about diabetic eye screening
programmes. New, minimally-traumatic
laser therapy can now be used to effectively
treat the retina in diabetic patients and this
can minimise any bleeding complications,
and help patients retain their ability to drive.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit www.retinasurgeon.uk.com
Mr Mahi Muqit, Moorfields Eye
Hospital - Private Patients
John Saunders Suite, 9-11 Bath Street
London, EC1V 9LF
Email private secretary
pp.mahi.muqit@moorfields.nhs.uk
or call 07717 203564.
The London Clinic-Eye Centre
119 Harley Street, London, W1G 6AU
Email private secretary
pp@retinasurgeon.uk.com
or call 07717 203564.

http://www.retinasurgeon.uk.com

At Home with Dr Christian Jessen

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of At Home with Dr Christian Jessen