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Global Ophthalmology in the Middle East: a Task Force proposal

Eye (2024)Cite this article

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The field of Global Ophthalmology is an evolving and rapidly expanding movement, as the global demand to address eyecare equity and preventable causes of vision impairment continues to grow [1, 2]. Globalization, while beneficial in many regards, has brought with it unique challenges to eyecare. Many of these challenges have been addressed through efforts such as capacity building, telemedicine, humanitarian outreach and the development of sustainable eyecare services. Through these fundamental building blocks, the World Health Organization (WHO) strives to integrate eyecare in their efforts for universal health coverage, with a target goal of increasing effective coverage of cataract surgery and refractive error by 2030 [2, 3].

However, each global region faces unique challenges related to eyecare access and delivery. The Middle East is a transcontinental expanse encompassing parts of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and Western Asia. The countries within the region differ in geographic variety as they do in economic status, political infrastructure, social and cultural dominance, as well as health care services [4]. Furthermore, the geopolitical region is dominated by ongoing armed conflicts, protests, and political unrest which often result in the breakdown of existing healthcare infrastructure [4]. As a result, the Middle East region poses unique barriers to eyecare that are exacerbated by ongoing turmoil which effectively hinder direct interventions and the alignment of healthcare policies that may be better suited with other global regions.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sheba Global Ophthalmology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Gan, Israel

    Mattan Arazi

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Moran Eye Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Sila Bal

  3. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Joshua R. Ehrlich

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Jacquelyn O’Banion

  5. International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK

    Jacquelyn O’Banion

  6. International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva, Switzerland

    Fatma Shakarchi

Authors
  1. Mattan Arazi
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  2. Sila Bal
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  3. Joshua R. Ehrlich
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  4. Jacquelyn O’Banion
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  5. Fatma Shakarchi
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Contributions

All authors (MA, SB, JE, JOB, FS) conceived and designed the paper, all authors (MA, SB, JE, JOB, FS) drafted and edited the paper, all authors (MA, SB, JE, JOB, FS) reviewed and approved the final manuscript, MA oversaw and validated the manuscript

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Correspondence to Mattan Arazi.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Arazi, M., Bal, S., Ehrlich, J.R. et al. Global Ophthalmology in the Middle East: a Task Force proposal. Eye (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-024-03020-5

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