Moorfields Eye Hospitals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have developed a sweet drink that delivers a coloured dye to the retina, to help doctors diagnose retinal diseases in children without using injections. The new procedure, oral fundus fluorescein angiography, uses ultra-widefield retinal imaging to follow the dye flow into the eye to reveal retina blood circulation. An initial study of 18 children found no side effects with all children treated successfully.
Commenting on the innovation and JAMA Ophthalmology publication, Declan Flanagan, medical director at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: "Retinal disorders are one of the most common causes of sight loss in children. It's so important that we get clear images of the back of the eye so we can accurately diagnose conditions to ensure that we offer the most appropriate treatment. The study suggests that drink solution technique is effective and it will hopefully make hospital visits much more pleasant for our young patients as it will reduce the need for painful injections."
