Bahrain has so far conducted 25 complicated eye surgeries using an amniotic membrane bank at the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC), established in 2005.

The successful Bahrain experiment is now being used as a 'role model' for other GCC countries, said SMC Consultant ophthalmologist and cornea specialist Dr Nada Al Yousef.

Dr Al Yousef, along with hospital Ophthalmology Department chairwoman and consultant ophthalmologist Dr Noora Al Kobaisi among others, are in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to share Bahrain's experience.

The teams is highlighting the country's experience in preparing and preserving amniotic membranes for corneal surgeries at the five-day conference of the Saudi Ophthalmology Association, which began last Saturday.

'The bank has been very beneficial in treating patients for complicated eye diseases,' said Dr Al Yousef.

'This is still the first of its kind in the Gulf region and is supplying the membrane to several leading hospitals.'

Amniotic membrane is used for transplants in the eye to treat certain cornea-related disorders.

It is retrieved from the human placenta (present in a woman's body during pregnancy), treated antiseptically and used for eye surgery.

Also treated with such membranes are disorders like persistent corneal ulcerations, stem-cell deficiencies and certain auto-immune disorders.

'Looking at our success, we have been invited to present case studies at the conference, which is a gathering of the elite from across the world,' said Dr Al Yousef. 'It is good that our efforts have been recognised.'

She said there was not much investment in setting up the facility but a lot of painstaking efforts were involved.

'The transplant also helps heal defects and ulcers, reducing inflammation and scarring. The advanced technique had recently been used internationally and is a big step forward in eye treatment,' said Dr Al Yousef.

She said all the cases at the SMC had been successful.

Dr Al Kobaisi said the Bahrain expertise could later be 'exported' to other countries in the GCC as well as the Middle East region.

'The residents in our department are now well-versed with the technique and can manage the operations,' she said.

Dr Al Kobaisi said it was always beneficial to share experiences at international events.

'We will also come out with a lot of additional inputs that we hope to implement in Bahrain in future,' she said.

The placenta is 'harvested' from patients going for elective caesarean section and are all screened for certain bacterial and viral infections, said Dr Al Kobaisi.

'After getting the patient's consent, the placenta is collected, and the membrane retrieved from it is processed,' she said.-TradeArabia News Service