Child quickly recovers and attends school again after complex procedure

18 October 2020:  The University Hospital of Sharjah has successfully performed a critical surgery on a four-year-old kid who was suffering from vertical squint, a rare medical case that is challenging to diagnose and treat. The successful surgical procedure led by Dr. Qasem Mubarak AlHammouri, Consultant - Pediatric Ophthalmology, has paved the way for the child to enjoy a healthy vision and live a normal life.

Dr. AlHammouri explained that the condition of the child named Youssef was the rare vertical squint, which can obstruct the vision apart from impacting a patient’s mental health. He also said that Youssef recovered quickly after his operation, allowing him to attend his kindergarten class again and enjoy a normal childhood. Despite the difficulty and complexity of Youssef’s case, Dr. AlHammouri went ahead with the surgery after the results of diagnostic research and tests performed using the latest medical devices in ophthalmology showed that the young patient could undergo the procedure.

Dr. Ali Obaid Al Ali, UHS Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board of Trustees, said: “At the University Hospital of Sharjah, we use the latest medical devices and equipment across all specialties, including ophthalmology, to achieve the best outcomes, and, in this case, because we believe in the value and the blessing of sight. Our team utilized modern technologies to diagnose and treat the patient, and we will continue to invest in advanced medical tools and in the skills of our specialists to enable them to better handle complex and delicate surgeries. This commitment is aligned with our goal to provide superior healthcare treatments according to the best international practices and bring happiness and satisfaction to all our patients.”

“We are proud of our distinguished doctors with subspecialties in ophthalmology. Apart from treating various eye disorders afflicting children and adults, we also offer treatments for retina damage, especially for diabetic patients, corneal diseases and other visual defects; cataract and glaucoma surgeries; and other medical and cosmetic eyelid surgeries. The recently successful surgery has been made possible due to the dedication and commitment to excellence of our doctors and nurses who only aim to deliver the best possible results. To optimally serve our patients, we have partnered with all insurance companies in the UAE to reduce the financial burden on our patients, as part of our social responsibility and commitment to providing value-added healthcare services to the communities of Sharjah and the UAE.” Dr. Al Ali added. 

According to Dr. AlHammouri, squint is a medical condition resulting from the misalignment of the eyes, which is evident when an individual is looking forward or to the sides. It can be a constant, permanent or changing condition at different times. It can affect the vision of both eyes and in some cases, lead to double vision. 

He added: 'Squint is a medical condition that requires immediate treatment. If left untreated, it can result in major complications such as lazy eye arising from neglecting the vision of one eye. In addition, vertical squint leads to psychological disorders secondary to its association with the aesthetic image of the face.'

The condition may appear at various stages of life although, in most cases, it can manifest itself during childhood. Infantile esotropia may appear during the first months of the child's life; whereas accommodative esotropia develops in children aged two to three as a result of hyperopia. The types of strabismus differ according to the direction of the deviation of the eye. The three types are accommodative esotropia, with both internal and external aspects; vertical squint, which is the least common and most difficult to diagnose and treat; and squint, which is the result of the paralysis of the eye nerves.