The smart device called eyeWatch is meant to drain excess fluid which reduces pressure on the eyes.

Through the use of innovation including telemedicine, digitised records, algorithms and robots that can do everything from caring for patients to conducting surgeries, technology has revolutionised the healthcare sector of the Middle East. Introduction of smart hospitals, groundbreaking procedures and devices which can perform complex operations in a non-invasive manner, has elevated Dubai's status as the leading destination for medical tourism in the region.

Over the past few months tiny implants have been used for diverse purposes including the regulation of heart rates and brain stimulation aimed at preventing seizures, while artificial corneas have also been introduced for improving eyesight. Spurred by these developments, doctors at one of UAE's top hospitals have successfully embedded the first intelligent eye implant, which promises to protect people against longterm loss of vision, in a more efficient manner.

Placed near the eye through a sophisticated procedure, the device called eyeWatch is aimed at countering glaucoma, which is a condition that causes gradual erosion of sight by causing stress to the eye. The small medtech gadget is designed to drain excess fluids from the eye to reduce pressure on the organ, in order to tackle the impact caused by glaucoma.

Although it isn't equipped for restoring eyesight among blind people, eyeWatch can change lives for those who are struggling to see and will lose vision in the near future. The smart implant is another alternative to eye drops, oral medication, laser treatment and surgery, which are ways to reduce the damage caused by glaucoma.

The mechanism that powers eyeWatch consists of a filter that is an outlet for the liquid, along with a valve and a magnet on the outside that controls the entire process. But it isn't a substitute for regular screening for the condition, that needs to be started at the age of 38, since a lot of people don't even report symptoms like stress on the eyes.

Recently medtech has come up with solutions including a smartphone app which could detect signs of eroding eyesight beforehand, to enable timely intervention.