Health x Wellness
Our Eyes for Life: Learn How to Manage Eye Conditions Better
It’s easy to forget that there are several eye conditions that need some looking at when age catches up with us.
The four major ones that we need to watch out for (pun not intended) in Singapore – statistically, at least – are cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In fact, those aged 40 to 60 are encouraged to have their eyes screened on a regular basis as a matter of precaution.
“With many eye diseases not showing obvious symptoms during the early stages, eye screenings are vital for the early detection of such diseases. We would recommend people aged 40 and above to go for eye screenings especially if there is a history of eye diseases in the family,” said Professor Ecosse Lamoureux, Head of Health Services Research at the Singapore Eye Research Institute.
Our Eyes for Life
Furthermore, the Singapore Optometrists and Opticians Board recommends that people in this age group should attend an eye screening at least once every two years. And even so, only 55.2% of those who attended eye screenings regularly fall within the recommended guideline.
Which brings us to Our Eyes for Life: it is a campaign designed to encourage people from the age group of 40-60 to take better care of their eyes and attend regular eye screenings to take control of their eye health. Its pilot campaign will kick off in Tampines GRC, as it houses the fourth-most number of people in the 40-59 age group. According to a survey of 216 Tampines residents, 57.9% had not sought eye screening since turning 40.
Expert Talks
A series of expert talks will also be held from 1100am to 1230pm to educate the public about eye conditions so do take the time to have a listen; your eyes will thank you for it.
The Our Eyes for Life campaign is running from now until end-March 2018.
You can stay updated on Our Eyes for Life at www.facebook.com/OurEyesForLifeSG.
Speaker Profiles
Dr Tan Kah Ooi is the CEO of Brien Holden Vision Institute, China. He was Associate Programme Director of the University of Manchester’s Optometry Programme in Singapore, Adjunct Associate Professor at the School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University from 2009 to 2015, and Honorary Lecturer, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, from 2009 to 2014. Prior to 2009, he worked in different management positions in CIBA Vision, Ocular Sciences and CooperVision mainly for Greater China and Asia-Pacific region.
Dr Tan is currently the President of Asia Optometric Congress, treasurer of Singapore Optometric Association, Professional Advisor of Korean Optometric Association, external professional committee of China Optometric and Optical Association, and a member of Editorial Board of scientific journal ‘Clinical and Experimental Optometry’. He has served also as the standing committee member for Asia-Pacific for the Legislation, Regulatory and Standards Committee of the World Council of Optometry from 2009 to 2011.
His areas of interest are contact lenses and business aspects of optometry particularly the trend of optical practice and optical industry in Asia.
Born and raised in Singapore, Ms Patricia Koh is an Optometrist with a background in Biomedical Science and a Master’s in Public Health. She joined Essilor R&D Singapore in 2005, focusing on progressive myopia in children and ethnic differences such as postural behaviour. In 2014, Patricia moved to Essilor Mission Division as Technical Manager to support the group’s social initiatives on training and exploring the base of the pyramid innovation.
Mr Kothubutheen Mohamed Farook is a Principal Optometrist with SNEC/SERI. An MSc graduate, he manages patients in the Primary Eye Care clinic. He is also involved in eye research programs. A recipient of the Humanitarian Award (2015), Farook is active in community work involving organising and participating in eye screenings locally and overseas.
About Our Eyes for Life
A communication campaign run by four final-year-students from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, as part of their final-year-project. The team, which comprises Lim Wei Hao, Chan Shu Hui, Nicole Ang Xin Pin and Lydia Teo Rui Jun, was inspired to focus on eye health after realising that all of their parents have suffered from some form of eye disease and that there was a lack of awareness of eye-related problems coupled with an ageing population in Singapore.
The campaign is also supported by the Singapore Optometric Association is proudly supported by Essilor International Research and Development, Essilor Vision Foundation and National Youth Council. Our Eyes for Life is also in partnership with Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore Optometric Association, People’s Association and Tampines Mall.
This is done in collaboration with the Singapore Optometric Association with sponsorship by Essilor International Research and Development (R&D) and with support from the National Youth Council’s Young ChangeMakers Grant.
