Dr Mouhamed Al-Aqaba

Mr. Al- Aqaba is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon and corneal specialist, and is also the Royal college of Ophthalmologist’s College Tutor at the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust. Mr. Al- Aqaba qualified as a doctor in 2002, and went on to specialise in ophthalmology, culminating in his attaining “Certificate of Completion of Training” (CCT) in Ophthalmology in Sept. 2020. He completed a post CCT fellowship in cornea and anterior segment at the Birmingham and Midlands Eye centre. He also holds a PhD in Ophthalmology from the University of Nottingham, investigating the architecture and distribution of human corneal nerves, which were subsequently published in esteemed journals. He is an experienced Eye surgeon, who specialises in complex corneal surgeries like corneal transplantation and also in high volume cataract surgery under topical anaesthesia. He also has extensive experience in other sub-specialties like Glaucoma, Emergency eye surgeries like reconstruction following penetrating eye injury. Clinical Posts: 1- Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Cornea Specialist (substantive), The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, Rotherham, March 2021- present 2- Post CCT fellow in cornea and anterior segment, Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, Birmingham. October 2020 – March 2021. 3- Specialist registrar with a national training number (NTN), Queens Medical Centre, East Midland Deanery, Nottingham. March 2016-September 2020; including cornea Trainee Selected Component (TSC) which is a sub speciality training in house from September 2019 to September 2020. 4- Specialty doctor in Ophthalmology. The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, Rotherham. July 2012-February 2016. 5- Specialist Ophthalmic Surgeon, Basra General Hospital, Basrah, Iraq. August 2011- July 2012. 6- Clinical fellow in Ophthalmology, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham. January 2008 to July 2011. 7- SHO in Ophthalmology, Basra General Hospital, Basrah, Iraq. October 2004- October 2007. 8- Foundation doctor, Basra General Hospital, Basrah, Iraq. October 2002- October 2004. Academic Posts: 1- Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer within the Academic Unit of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health, The University of Sheffield, March 2021 – till present. 2- Clinical Assistant Professor in Ophthalmology and Academic Trainee at East Midland Deanery, Academic Ophthalmology, School of Neuroscience, The University of Nottingham, March 2016 – March 2020 3- Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer within the Academic Unit of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health, The University of Sheffield, July 2015 – March 2016. 4- Lecturer in Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Basrah, 2011-2012. My main role was to teach and lecture fifth year medical student. This included clinical seminars, grand rounds, and practical assessment. I was also a member of higher examination committee. I also worked as anatomy instructor of the head and neck region for second year medical students. 5- PhD student/Clinical Research Fellow, Division of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, 2008- 2011. My main research project was to investigate the architecture and distribution of human corneal nerves. Several novel findings were elucidated and published in high ranked journals. 6- Research and Teaching Assistant, Division of ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Basrah, 2002-2007. My role was to arrange and organize teaching sessions and practical assessments for medical students. Research grants as a principal investigator: 1- “Involvement of corneal nerves in the pathogenesis and progression of keratoconus”, Small Grant Awards Schemes, Fight for Sight, 2018. (awarded; £14,695) 2- “Characterisation of novel neuronal receptors at human corneal limbus”, Small Grant Awards Schemes, Fight for Sight, 2017. (awarded; £15000) Publications: 1- Corneal endothelial decompensation due to unrecognised anterior migration of fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant. Eucornea Journal, 2022. Al-AqabaM, Ting DSJ, Said DG, Dua HS. ( https://eucornea.scholasticahq.com/article/38639- corneal-endothelial-decompensation-due-to-unrecognised-anterior-migration-of-fluocinolone-acetonide-intravitreal-implant ) 2- Surgical management of infectious keratitis. The Ocular Surface, 2021. Said DG, Rallis K, Al-AqabaM, Ting DSJ, Dua HS. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S154201242100104X) 3- Seasonal patterns of incidence, demographic factors and microbiological profiles of infectious keratitis: the Nottingham Infectious Keratitis Study. Eye (Lond), 2020. Ting DSJ, Ho CS, Cairns J, Gopal BP, Elsahn A, Al-Aqaba M, Boswell T, Said DG, Dua HS. (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41433-020-01272-5) 4- 12-year analysis of incidence, microbiological profiles and in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of infectious keratitis: the Nottingham Infectious Keratitis Study. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 2020. Ting DSJ, Ho CS, Cairns J, Elsahn A, Al-Aqaba M, Boswell T, Said DG, Dua HS. (https://bjo.bmj.com/content/105/3/328.long) 5- Delayed Recovery of Corneal Nerve Function and Structure Following Acoustic Neuroma Surgery. Archives of Ophthalmology, 2020. Al-Aqaba MA, Said DG, Dua HS. (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/article-abstract/2772032) 6- Clinical and in vivo confocal microscopic features of neuropathic corneal pain. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 2020. Ross AR, Al-Aqaba MA, Almaazmi A, Messina M, Nubile M, Mastropasqua L, Dua HS, Said DG. (https://bjo.bmj.com/content/104/6/768.long) 7- Corneal nerves in health and disease. Progress in Retinal and Eye Research, 2019. Al-Aqaba MA, Dhillon VK, Mohammed I, Said DG, Dua HS. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S135094621830096X?via%3Dihub) 8- Nerve terminals at the human corneoscleral limbus. British Journal of Ophthalmology 2018. Al-Aqaba MA, Anis FS, Mohammed I, Dua HS. (https://bjo.bmj.com/content/102/4/556.long) 9- Survival of corneal nerve/sheath structures in organ-cultured donor corneas. Acta Ophthalmologica 2018. Dhillon VK, Elalfy MS, Messina M, Al-Aqaba MA, Dua HS. (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/aos.13614) 10- Electrocution cataract; “Diagnose This” section, American Academy of Ophthalmology website. August 2015. http://www.aao.org/diagnose-this/diagnose-this-electrocution-cataract 11- Vision loss associated with unilateral nonaxial proptosis; “Diagnose This” section, American Academy of Ophthalmology website. July 2015. http://www.aao.org/diagnose-this/diagnose-this-vision-loss-associated-with-unilater 12- Clinical evaluation and characterisation of corneal vascularisation. British Journal of Ophthalmology 2015. Faraj LA, Said DG, Al-Aqaba MA, Otri AM, Dua HS. (https://bjo.bmj.com/content/100/3/315.long) 13- Calcified corneal nerves. Cornea 2015. Messina M, Elalfy M, Ghoz N, Faraj L, Al-Aqaba MA, Dua HS. (https://insights.ovid.com/pubmed?pmid=25850704) 14- Corneal hypoesthesia with normal sub-basal nerve density following surgery for trigeminal neuralgia. Acta Ophthalmologica January 2015. Dhillon VK, Elalfy MS, Al-Aqaba MA, Gupta A, Basu S, Dua HS. (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/aos.12697) 15- Anaesthetic corneas with intact sub-basal nerve plexus. British Journal of Ophthalmology January 2014. Dhillon VK, Elalfy MS, Al-Aqaba MA, Dua HS. (https://bjo.bmj.com/content/98/3/417.long) 16- Management of postkeratoplasty astigmatism by paired arcuate incisions with compression sutures. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 2013. Fares U, Mokashi AA, Al-Aqaba MA, Otri AM, Miri A, Dua HS. (http://bjo.bmj.com/content/early/2013/02/05/bjophthalmol-2012-302128.abstract) 17- Wavefront-optimized excimer laser in situ keratomileusis for myopia and myopic astigmatism: Refractive outcomes and corneal densitometry. Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, 2012. Fares U, Otri AM, Al-Aqaba MA, Faraj L, Dua HS. (http://www.jcrsjournal.org/article/S0886-3350(12)01331-4/abstract) 18- Profile of Sight Threatening Infectious Keratitis: A Prospective Study. Acta Ophthalmologica, 2012. Otri AM, Fares U, Al-Aqaba MA, Miri A, Faraj LA, Said DG, Maharajan S, Dua HS. (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1755-3768.2012.02489.x/abstract) 19- The effect of gravitational force on limbal stem cell growth. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 2012. Miri A, Hashmani K, Al-Aqaba MA, Faraj LA, Fares U, Otri AM, Said DG, Dua HS. (http://bjo.bmj.com/content/96/7/1034.abstract) 20- The changing face of corneal graft rejection (Editorial).British Journal of Ophthalmology, 2012. Faraj LA, Hashmani K, Khatib T, Al-Aqaba MA, Dua HS. (http://bjo.bmj.com/content/96/8/1049.extract) 21- In vivo confocal microscopic features of normal limbus. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 2012. Miri A, Al-Aqaba MA, Otri AM, Fares U, Said DG, Faraj LA, Dua HS. (http://bjo.bmj.com/content/96/4/530.abstract) 22- In vivo confocal microscopic findings in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency. British Journal of Ophthalmology 2012. Miri A, Alomar T, Nubile M, Al-Aqaba MA, Lanzini M, Fares U, Said DG, Lowe J, Dua HS. (http://bjo.bmj.com/content/96/4/523.abstract) 23- Variable expression of human beta defensins 3 and 9 at the human ocular surface in Infectious Keratitis. IOVS 2012. Otri AM, Mohammed I, Al-Aqaba MA, Fares U, Peng C, Hopkinson A, Dua HS. (http://www.iovs.org/content/53/2/757.long) 24- Histological and Confocal Microscopy Changes in Chronic Corneal Edema: Implications for Endothelial Transplantation. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, 2011. Alomar T, Al-Aqaba MA, J Lowe, Dua HS. (http://www.iovs.org/content/52/11/8193.long) 25- Corneal Densitometry as an Indicator of Corneal Health. Ophthalmology, 2012. Otri AM, Fares U, Al-Aqaba MA, Dua HS. (http://www.aaojournal.org/article/S0161-6420(11)00789-5/abstract) 26- Correlation of Central and Peripheral Corneal Thickness in Healthy Corneas. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, 2011. Fares U, Otri AM, Al-Aqaba MA, Dua HS. (http://www.contactlensjournal.com/article/S1367-0484(11)00101-9/abstract) 27- A Review of Refractive Surgery. European Ophthalmic Reviews, 2011. Fares U, Al-Aqaba MA, Otri AM, Dua HS. (http://www.touchophthalmology.com/articles/review-refractive-surgery). 28- The Effect of Standard and Transepithelial Collagen Cross Linking on Human Corneal Nerves. American Journal of Ophthalmology, 2012. Al-Aqaba MA, Calienno R, Fares U, Otri A M, Mastropasqua L, Nubile M, Dua HS. (http://www.ajo.com/article/S0002-9394(11)00583-6/abstract) 29- Organisation of the Regenerated Nerves in Human Corneal Grafts. American Journal of Ophthalmology, 2012. Al-Aqaba MA, Fares U, Otri A M ,Miri A, Dua HS. (http://www.ajo.com/article/S0002-9394(11)00477-6/abstract) 30- The Morphology of Corneal Nerves in Advanced Keratoconus as evaluated by Acetylcholinestrase technique. American Journal of Ophthalmology, 2011. Al-Aqaba MA, Faraj L, Fares U, Otri A M , Dua HS. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002939411002339) 31- The efficacy, predictability and safety of wavefront guided refractive laser treatment: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, 2011. Fares U, Suleman H, Al-Aqaba MA, Otri AM, Dua HS. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0886335011007334) 32- Corneal Nerve Aberrations in Bullous Keratopathy. American Journal of Ophthalmology, 2011. Al-Aqaba MA, Alomar T, Lowe J, Dua HS. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002939410009086) 33- Ex vivo Confocal Microscopy of Human Corneal Nerves. British Journal of Ophthalmolology, 2010. Al-Aqaba MA, Alomar T, Miri A, Fares U, Otri A M , Dua HS. (http://bjo.bmj.com/content/94/9/1251.abstract) 34- Architecture and Distribution of Human Corneal Nerves. British Journal of Ophthalmolology, 2009. Al-Aqaba MA, Fares U, Suleman H, Lowe J, Dua HS. (http://bjo.bmj.com/content/94/6/784.full.pdf) 35- Correlation between the Pattern of Myopic Fundal Changes and the Axis of Astigmatism of the Eye. British Journal of Ophthalmolology 2009. Ahmad R, Al-Aqaba MA, Fares U, Otri AM, Miri A, Said DG, Dua HS. (http://bjo.bmj.com/content/94/3/307.abstract) 36- Rapid suture management of post-keratoplasty astigmatism. Eye 2009. Sarhan AR, Fares U, Al-Aqaba MA, Miri A, Otri AM, Said DG, Dua HS. (http://www.nature.com/eye/journal/v24/n4/full/eye2009146a.html) Presentations: 1- Anesthetic corneas with intact sub-basal nerve plexus. The 19th Nottingham Eye Symposium, January 2015. 2- Ultrastructural characterisation of a newly discovered neuronal structure in human corneas. The 18th Nottingham Eye Symposium, January 2014. 3- Short term results of intravitreal dexamethasone implant (OZURDEX(®)) in the treatment of macular oedema following retinal vein occlusion. The 18th Nottingham Eye Symposium, January 2014. 4- Corneal Hypoesthesia But Normal Sub-Basal Nerve Densities Following Trigeminal Neuralgia Surgery. Poster, AAO meeting 2013. 5- Organisation of the Regenerated Nerves in Human Corneal Grafts (oral presentation). The 17th Nottingham Eye Symposium, Nottingham, January 2013. 6- Corneal Nerve Aberrations in Bullous Keratopathy (oral presentation). The 15th Nottingham eye Symposium and research meeting, Nottingham, January 2011. 7- The Morphology of Corneal Nerves in Advanced Keratoconus (poster presentation), The 15th Nottingham eye Symposium and research meeting, Nottingham, January 2011. 8- Correlation of Central and Peripheral Corneal Thickness in Healthy Corneas (oral presentation). The 15th Nottingham eye Symposium and research meeting, Nottingham, January 2011. 9- Profile of Sight Threatening Infectious Keratitis in Nottinghamshire: A prospective study (poster presentation), The 15th Nottingham eye Symposium and research meeting, Nottingham, January 2011. 10- Insights in to Corneal Innervations: What Have We Missed for So Long?. HS Dua and Al-Aqaba M. The 2nd Asian Cornea Society, Japan, December 2010. Keynote lecture. 11- Ground-breaking discovery will revolusionise LASIK eye surgery (poster presentation). Vitae Midlands Hub Poster Competition, July 2010. 12- Architecture and distribution of human corneal nerves (oral presentation). 1st EuCornea Congress, Venice, Italy, June 2010. 13- Architecture and Distribution of Human Corneal Nerves (Oral presentation). the 8th MDA Annual Eye Surgery Update, Cardiff, UK, March 2010. 14- Architecture and Distribution of Human Corneal Nerves (oral presentation). the 14th Nottingham eye Symposium and research meeting. Nottingham- UK, January 2010. 15- Vitreous Length as a predictor of refractive outcome after penetrating Keratoplasty for keratoconus (oral presentation). the 14th Nottingham eye Symposium and research meeting. Nottingham- UK, January 2010. 16- In Vivo Confocal Microscopy in Corneal Oedema with Histopathological Correlation (poster presentation). the 14th Nottingham eye Symposium and research meeting. Nottingham- UK, January 2010. Prizes and Awards: 1. David Meyer Research Prize for the best research paper “Ultrastructural characterisation of a newly discovered neuronal structure in human corneas”. The 18th Nottingham Eye Symposium, January 2014. 2. Ruskell Medal 2010 as the first author of the paper “Architecture and Distribution of Human Corneal Nerves”. Prize money £750.00. (http://www.spectaclemakers.com/awardsandtraining/ruskell-medal-competition.htm) 3. The best poster presentation, 2nd EuCornea Congress, Vienna, September 2011. The Morphology of Corneal Nerves in Advanced Keratoconus (Poster presentation). 4. The Second Prize, International Online Poster Competition 2010, Graduate Junction Community, December, 2010. Ground-breaking discovery will revolusionise LASIK eye surgery (Poster Presentation). (http://www.graduatejunction.net/posters). Prize money £100.00 5. The First Prize, Vitae Midlands Hub Poster Competition, July 2010. Ground-breaking discovery will revolusionise LASIK eye surgery (Poster Presentation). Prize money £500.00. 6. The best paper in the Cornea and Ocular Surface Session, 1st EuCornea Congress, Venice, Italy, June 2010. Architecture and Distribution of Human Corneal Nerves (Oral presentation). 7. Research Prize, Research Showcase, Graduate School, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK, May 2010. Ground-breaking discovery will revolusionise LASIK eye surgery (Poster Presentation) 8. Research Prize, 8th MDA Annual Eye Surgery Update, Cardiff, UK, March 2010. Architecture and Distribution of Human Corneal Nerves (Oral presentation). Prize money £50.00 9. Travel Prize, Graduate School, University of Nottingham, February 2010. Architecture and Distribution of Human Corneal Nerves (Oral presentation). Prize money £500.00 10. Nottingham Prize Trophy for the best clinical research, Nottingham Eye Symposium, January 2010. Architecture and Distribution of Human Corneal Nerves (Oral presentation).