Eyes can tell...

Problem
Diabetes, strokes and heart-related diseases - How can the doctors know if one is possibly living with one of the above problems without the need to do too much complex tests?

Solution
By reading the retina through new cameras and computer imaging techniques. Any subtle changes to the retinal blood vessels can now be measured precisely. This was explained by Wong Tien Yin, a professor at the department of Ophthalmology at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and is also deputy director of the Singapore Eye Research Institute and senior consultant ophthalmologist, Vitreo Retinal Service, at the Singapore National Eye Centre.

Where can I get the service?
At polyclinics only for the moment. To include government hospitals and private clinics later.

The system
Digital pictures of your eyes from the polyclinics would be sent by email to a central 'reading centre' at the department of Ophthalmology at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Source - BT "The eyes really do have it", August 9, 2008.

Professor Donald Tan speaks...

In an article entitled "Eye-opening techniques to better vision" in BT on July 5, 2008, Professor Donald Tan, director of SNEC and Singapore Eye Research Institute discussed the pros and cons of EyeRelax2 and Neurovision.

Firstly, what is EyeRelax2? I quote,
"EyeRelax2 has been tried by some schoolchildren, concerned parents and educators. Using the toaster-size device is certainly a colourful experience. First, coloured circles go back and forth to work the ciliary muscles. Second, the circles flash like disco lights - accompanied by Richard Clayderman-type music - to stimulate the retina."

What did the professor say about EyeRelax2? I quote again,

• "There are no overdosage warning tags or schedules to comply with. The only recommendation is to use the device twice a day, with three to four hours between sessions."
• "EyeRelax has never published any scientific results or studies and cannot therefore claim any scientific efficacy."
• "EyeRelax2 simply helps people relax their eyes back to their normal distance focus - and does nothing to correct myopia, which occurs as a result of eyeball growth."

What is Neurovision? I got the following from SNEC's website,

"It is a patented, hi-tech system... based on twenty years of scientific and clinical research. The NeuroVision programs have been tested and validated by the Singapore Eye Research Institute, and other reputable eye institutions worldwide.All NeuroVision programs received the European Union Medical CE Mark."

What did Prof say about it?

• "He gives his vote to NeuroVision."
• "NeuroVision attempts to train the brain's visual cortex to process blurred images better. Images are said to get sharper, so a person can see better. There is a stricter regime of 30 sessions to adhere to, and it should be used on alternate days."
• "... use the computer programme, or buy the system to use it at home, though you will have to visit an optometrist or opthalmologist every five sessions to check on progress."
• ".. it works best for people with less than 150 degrees."

Consumers, the above is presented as a summary of an article in a local newspaper. For a complete view, you may wish to read the article cited or check with a trained personnel in this area of knowledge.

Symptoms of eye problems among children

Parents may mistakenly believe that if their child has trouble seeing, they'll tell them about the problem. But most kids don't even know that they have a problem. To them, the way they see is normal.

Examples of some symptoms we should look out for.

1. If your child avoids close work or seems to have a short attention span when doing close work, such as reading or working on the computer.
2. If you feel like your child should be a lot brighter than school results indicates,
3. If your child is bumping into things a lot, or
4. If you see that one eye doesn't quite follow the other as it should,
5. If you have any serious eye problems that run in the family, such as glaucoma or an eye turn

Particularly for point (5), your child should begin having professional eye exams starting as early as 6 months of age.

Beyond eye charts for your children...

As a parent, I do hear that the school nurses are routinely checking our children's vision using the eye charts. But are these quick screenings thorough enough to detect most eye disorders?

Probably not. These nurses would help to alert the parents if any obvious abnormality is observed. On an occassion, I did received a note from these nurses to bring my daughter for further check up.

The myopic problem among our school going children is quite well documented in Singapore.

But parents need to realize there's more to vision than seeing the eye chart.

A comprehensive exam is one done by a trained eye professional, such as an optometrist or ophthalmologist, that looks not only at how well your child can read an eye chart, but looks at the health of the eye and checks to be sure that the eyes work together as a team.

Some doctors recommend starting routine professional eye exams around age 5, or just before your child starts school.

The school, parents and trained eye professionals are working together to help to arrest the myopic problem among our children.

Who should be prescribing your contact lens?

A "contact lens practitioner" is the person who can engaged in the testing of sight and the prescription or the fitting of contact lenses.


Under the CONTACT LENS PRACTITIONERS ACT (CHAPTER 53A) in Singapore, the person must be registered with and licensed by Contact Lens Practitioners Board under the authority of Health Sciences Authority established under the Health Sciences Authority Act (Cap. 122C).


How do I know whether he is licenced or otherwise?
Every registered contact lens practitioner and every person who holds a provisional licence shall display his licence conspicuously at the principal place of practice as a contact lens practitioner.


The licence is subject to renewal on an annual basis.