Student Profiles

The ocular surface is constantly exposed to external environment. Infection rarely occurs as there are several protective mechanisms at the ocular surface which include the human defence peptides (HDP). hBD9 has been shown to be constitutively expressed on the ocular surface but little is known of this HDP. My research involves cloning DEFB109 gene using plasmid vector and E coli expression system in order to recombinantly synthesise the peptide. hBD9 will also be extracted using immunohistochemistry techniques and beads affinity chromatography from cell lines. At a later stage, the biological characteristics of hBD9 yielded from the two methods will be determined and comparisons made.

Publications

1. Omar N, Salleh R, Metal Hook Injury – A preventable domestic injury. Saudi J Ophthal; 23(3):219-220.
2. Tabbara KF, Omar N, Hammouda E, Akanuma M, Ohguchi T, Ariga T, Tagawa Y, Kitaichi N, Ishida S, Aoki K, Ishiko H, Ohno S, Molecular epidemiology of adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis in Saudi Arabia, Molecular Vision 2010; 16:2132-2136.

Background

Education:

1. Bach Med. Sci. (National University of Malaysia), 1991

2. Bach Med. Doctor, (National University of Malaysia), 1994

3. Master of Surg (Ophthal) (National University of Malaysia), 2002

4. Clinical Fellow in Cornea, Ocular Surface and Uveitis (The Eye Center and Eye Research Foundation, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), 2009

Previous Appointments:

1. House Officer, Ministry of Health, Malaysia.1994
2. Health and Medical Officer, Ministry of Health, Malaysia. 1995
3. Medical Lecturer, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia. 1999

Corneal avascularity is essential in preserving its clarity, it also provide the basis for the immune privilege of the cornea against graft rejection. Corneal neovascularisation CVas is the focus of my work and I am interested in the clinical and molecular characterisation of corneal neovascularisation, the potential therapeutic strategies and clinical trials.

Publications

1. Bhatt UK, Faraj LA, Dhillon V, Dua HS. Visual outcomes in corneal transplantation. Br J Ophthalmol 2013;97:5-6.

2. Otri AM, Fares U, Al-Aqaba MA, et al. Profile of sight-threatening infectious keratitis: a prospective study. Acta Ophthalmol 2012.

3. Miri A, Hashmani K, Al-aqaba M, et al. The effect of gravitational force on limbal stem cell growth. Br J Ophthalmol 2012;96:1034-1037.

4. Miri A, Al-Aqaba M, Otri AM, et al. In vivo confocal microscopic features of normal limbus. Br J Ophthalmol 2012;96:530-536.

5. Fares U, Otri AM, Al-Aqaba MA, Faraj L, Dua HS. Wavefront-optimized excimer laser in situ keratomileusis for myopia and myopic astigmatism: refractive outcomes and corneal densitometry. J Cataract Refract Surg 2012;38:2131-2138.

6. Faraj LA, Hashmani K, Khatib T, Al-Aqaba M, Dua HS. The changing face of corneal graft rejection. Br J Ophthalmol 2012;96:1049-1050.

7. Dua HS, Otri AM, Said DG, Faraj LA. The 'up-down' sign of acute ocular surface drug toxicity. Br J Ophthalmol 2012;96:1439-1440.

8. Dua HS, Miri A, Faraj LA, Said DG. Free autologous conjunctival grafts. Ophthalmology 2012;119:2189-2189 e2182.

9. Cursiefen C, Colin J, Dana R, et al. Consensus statement on indications for anti-angiogenic therapy in the management of corneal diseases associated with neovascularisation: outcome of an expert roundtable. Br J Ophthalmol 2012;96:3-9.

10.     Faraj LA, Said DG, Dua HS. Evaluation of corneal neovascularisation. Br J Ophthalmol 2011;95:1343-1344.

11.     Faraj LA, Hashmani K, Dua HS. The power of a bubble: Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) and rebubbling. Br J Ophthalmol 2011;95:1481-1482.

12.     Al-Aqaba MA, Faraj L, Fares U, Otri AM, Dua HS. The morphologic characteristics of corneal nerves in advanced keratoconus as evaluated by acetylcholinesterase technique. Am J Ophthalmol 2011;152:364-376 e361.

Neovascular eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy are the leading causes of blindness in the retired and working populations respectively of the western world. These diseases are caused by new blood vessel formation by endothelial cells of the relevant tissues. Growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are known to be important in the development of the diseases, but current treatments targeting VEGF do not completely stop the diseases. The mechanisms involved in the development of the diseases are complex and not fully understood.

My research focus is the mechanisms of the development of the diseases using an in vitro cell culture system of human primary cells from the sights of the diseases in the back of the eye. We are investigating the effects of different growth factors and inflamation factors and on the cells at the cell, protein and gene levels. We are using molecular biology techniques to characterise these diseases and identify possible targets for new treatments.

Background

Qualifications:

2006, BM Bachelor of Medicine, CAPITAL UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, CHINA

2009, MPhil Master of Philosophy, N/A Ophthalmology, PEKING UNIVERSITY, CHINA

Publications

1. Wei R, Stewart, E.A., Amoaku, W.M. Suitability of endogenous reference genes for gene expression studies with human intraocular endothelial cells. BMC Research Notes 2013;6.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication specific to diabetes caused by poor blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lipid control, leading to blockage, leakage and pathological growth of retinal blood vessels. DR remains the most common cause of visual loss in many developed countries. Within 20 years of diagnosis nearly all people with Type 1 diabetes have some degree of retinopathy. Because of this DR has been extensively studied over the years, with some increase in understanding of the mechanisms involved. However, it remains a serious public health problem and socioeconomic burden. Diabetic choroidopathy is a less well studied entity, and is thought to occur in the advanced stages of diabetic eye disease. Diabetic macular oedema (DMO), central retinal (macular) thickening is caused by increased vessel permeability leading to a build up of fluid and is the most common cause of visual loss resulting from DR. Further elucidation of the mechanisms of diabetic eye disease and the mechanism of current treatments is necessary to improve understanding and treatment of those affected. 

Background:

• 2001–2005 Residency at the department of Ophthalmology, Al Mouassat University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University
• 2006 MRCSed in Ophthalmology
• 2006 certification from the secretariat General of the Arab board of medical specializations in Ophthalmology.
• 2008 International Council of Ophthalmology ICO (Cambridge, UK) certification.

My work involves further exploration of the ultrastructure of corneal nerves using confocal microscopy and electron microscopy.

Background:

Qualifications:

• 2006, University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland, MB BCh BAO
• 2009, FRCOphth Part 1 (London)
• 2009, FRCSEd Part 1 (Edin)
• 2011, Practical Refraction Certificate

Presentations:

• Dhillon VK, Cullinane A. ‘Stickler Syndrome: The Controversy’. Presented at Royal Academy of Medicine Ireland - Ophthalmic Section (RAMI) Meeting, Dublin. November 2008
• Dhillon VK, Byrne S. ‘Eales Disease: Diagnosis of Exclusion’. Presented at RAMI Meeting, Dublin. March 2009
• Dhillon VK, Byrne S, Ng E. ‘Phaco Modulation With Bausch & Lomb’s Millennium Custom  Control Software (CCS): Ease Of Use And Efficiency’. Presented at Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO) Annual Conference, Kilkenny, Ireland. May 2009

Audit:

‘Are Phacoemulsification Surgical Times Different Between Trainees and Trainers and is there Anything We Can Do To Close the Gap?’. December 2008  

Publications:

1. Bhatt UK, Faraj LA, Dhillon V, Dua HS.  Visual outcomes in corneal transplantation.  Br J Ophthalmol 2013; 97:5-6.

their treatment and their visual rehabilitation

The advance stage of Dry Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may affect large areas of the central retina known as Geographic Atrophy causing the loss of central vision and the ability to fixate objects. Up today there are no treatments available for dry AMD and patients with remaining peripheral vision and unstable fixation are diagnosed as Low Vision patients.  My research involves the study of retinal functional changes during the progression of certain pathologies affecting the central vision and the development of more effective eccentric vision therapies with the aid of auditory bio-feedback microperimetry techniques.

Background:

1986-1991 - MEng La Salle University Mexico City

1993-2012 - 18 years experience as biomedical engineer in different ophthalmological areas such as: Lasers (excimer, yag, photocoagulators), phacoemulsifiers, microperimeters, topographers, retinographers, confocal microscopes, ultrasounds and many others used for different eye diseases affecting the cornea, the lens and the retina. In the last 4 years I have taken part in the development of new technology for retina imaging and studied new approaches for the aid of Low Vision patients with loss of central vision and unstable fixation.

Invited Lectures:

2012-09 - ENVISION Conference, “The change in fixation stability patterns during long task testing“ (Lecture approved for the Envision Conference in September 2012 St. Louis Mo, USA)

2012-09 - EURETINA, “Evaluation of retina function with new microperimeter parameters of Preferred Retinal Locus (PRL): PRL_High and PRL_Low” (Lecture approved for the Euretina Conference in September 2012 Milan, Italy)

2012-04 - Sociedad Espanola de Baja Vision (Spanish Low Vision Society), “Low Vision rehabilitatcion with microperimetry and bio feedback”

2011-11 - II Śląski Meeting, Poland, “Understanding macula function with Microperimetry analysis”