A technique used to reduce the number of people with poor eyesight by giving children corrective contact lenses has caused a rift between UAE eye experts.
Orthokeratology, often referred to as ortho-k, involves the use of specially fitted contact lenses to temporarily reshape the cornea to improve vision.
Although the treatment has been used for more than two decades elsewhere, it is rarely prescribed in the UAE.
The lenses are often prescribed to address myopia – short-sightedness – in which the patient can see close objects clearly but objects farther away appear blurred.
It has made me a better footballer as I can see more of the pitch when I’m playing and I’m more confident at school
Khaled Arbabi,
15
Ortho-k lenses are typically worn at night during sleep and have a similar corrective purpose as orthodontic braces worn by teenagers to realign crooked teeth.
Daniel Crown, an optometrist at Moorfields Eye Hospital in Abu Dhabi, said more children should be offered the lenses to prevent eye problems worsening in adulthood.
But Dr Julia Semprna Matarredona, an ophthalmologist who treats up to 30 children a week for myopia at Barraquer Eye Hospital, Dubai, believes glasses would be a better option due to concerns over children rubbing their eyes and causing infections.
Tackling long-term eye problems
“These lenses are relatively new for children as they were designed for adults,” said Mr Crown, who moved to the UAE from the UK in August.
“Children under 18 who are short-sighted will tend to have their condition progress rapidly.
“It is a dilemma – if the numbers increase too much it will also increase the number of eye pathologies in the future and they will end up with other eye problems.
“The international thinking is 'how can we slow this down', and these contact lenses are one option as they help to slow down the progression while at the same time improving a child’s vision.”
How do they work?
The lens works by sitting on top of the cornea to create a void between the lens and the cornea itself.
The front layer of cells in the cornea are continuously replenishing. While wearing a lens, an artificially moulded shape is created in front of the cornea, so when the lens is removed that shape remains in place, allowing it to alter how light is focused in the back of the eye.
That usually results in fully corrected vision for the day ahead but the lens must be worn every night for the treatment to be effective.
Mr Crown has been working with children in the UK with these lenses for 10 years but since moving to the UAE realised the because they were rarely prescribed, it was potentially an area for growth.
Opticians measure short and long-sightedness on a plus and minus scale, whereby the greater the number falls in either direction, the more extreme the condition.
For example, a child judged to need a prescription of minus 1 would have a mild case of myopia, with a reading of minus 5 being more serious.
“When I came here I realised few people knew about this or prescribed them to children,” he said.
“Since then we have prescribed them to quite a number of children to improve their eyesight.
“For example, if a child is six years old and is diagnosed with a prescription of minus 0.5, by the time they are 17 or so they would typically be on a prescription of minus 7 or minus 8.
“Contact lenses reduce this by about 45 per cent on average.”
The lenses typically cost about Dh3,200 ($871) for a 12-month supply but are not currently covered by health insurance.
Mr Crown has prescribed the lenses to children as young as six and while suitability is assessed on a case-to-case basis, he said most youngsters are helped by good results.
School pupil benefits
One of those is 15-year-old Khaled Arbabi who attends the British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi and began wearing the lenses 12 months ago.
In that time his eyesight has improved from a prescription of minus 4 to almost perfect vision and he no longer requires glasses.
“Initially, I could barely read without my glasses,” he said.
“I wanted to switch to contact lenses as I play a lot of football. Wearing glasses, I couldn’t really go for any headers or scan the pitch properly.
“These lenses have really helped. My eyesight now is perfect, 20-20 vision and they have stopped my eyes from getting any worse.
“It has made me a better footballer as I can see more of the pitch when I’m playing and I’m more confident at school.”
Infection risk
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 30 per cent of the global population is short-sighted.
By 2050, about half the population is expected to have the condition, the WHO said.
In the US, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention report found up to 11 million 12 year olds could improve their eyesight and avoid long-term issues with early diagnosis and corrective treatments.
Despite the potential for vast eyesight improvements, some specialists said ortho-k lenses were not widely prescribed due to infection concerns.
“In young children, this is not something I would recommend as the risk of infection is very high,” said Dr Matarredona.
“Children are usually not particularly hygienic and tend to rub their eyes, particularly at night.
“It is only a temporary treatment, when you stop using the contact lens the cornea will remain the same shape and size. This not a cure for myopia, just a treatment to control it like glasses, which are generally safer for children.”
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Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m; Winner: Gurm, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Al Nafece, Al Muatasm Al Balushi, Mohammed Ramadan
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Adrie de Vries, Ibrahim Aseel
6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Ottoman, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Liwa Oasis – Group 2 (PA) 300,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Hakeemat Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
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RACECARD
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8.20pm Zabeel Turf – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,000m
8.55pm Downtown Dubai Cup – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 1,400m
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10.05pm Dubai Sprint – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
'Nope'
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
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Three-day coronation
Royal purification
The entire coronation ceremony extends over three days from May 4-6, but Saturday is the one to watch. At the time of 10:09am the royal purification ceremony begins. Wearing a white robe, the king will enter a pavilion at the Grand Palace, where he will be doused in sacred water from five rivers and four ponds in Thailand. In the distant past water was collected from specific rivers in India, reflecting the influential blend of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology on the coronation. Hindu Brahmins and the country's most senior Buddhist monks will be present. Coronation practices can be traced back thousands of years to ancient India.
The crown
Not long after royal purification rites, the king proceeds to the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall where he receives sacred water from eight directions. Symbolically that means he has received legitimacy from all directions of the kingdom. He ascends the Bhadrapitha Throne, where in regal robes he sits under a Nine-Tiered Umbrella of State. Brahmins will hand the monarch the royal regalia, including a wooden sceptre inlaid with gold, a precious stone-encrusted sword believed to have been found in a lake in northern Cambodia, slippers, and a whisk made from yak's hair.
The Great Crown of Victory is the centrepiece. Tiered, gold and weighing 7.3 kilograms, it has a diamond from India at the top. Vajiralongkorn will personally place the crown on his own head and then issues his first royal command.
The audience
On Saturday afternoon, the newly-crowned king is set to grant a "grand audience" to members of the royal family, the privy council, the cabinet and senior officials. Two hours later the king will visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred space in Thailand, which on normal days is thronged with tourists. He then symbolically moves into the Royal Residence.
The procession
The main element of Sunday's ceremonies, streets across Bangkok's historic heart have been blocked off in preparation for this moment. The king will sit on a royal palanquin carried by soldiers dressed in colourful traditional garb. A 21-gun salute will start the procession. Some 200,000 people are expected to line the seven-kilometre route around the city.
Meet the people
On the last day of the ceremony Rama X will appear on the balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace at 4:30pm "to receive the good wishes of the people". An hour later, diplomats will be given an audience at the Grand Palace. This is the only time during the ceremony that representatives of foreign governments will greet the king.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
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What to watch out for:
Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways
The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof
The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history
Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure
Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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