Speech by Dr Amy Khor, Minister-of-State (Health),at the Launch of the Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Week 2011

24 Sep 2011

By Dr Amy Khor
Venue: Khoo Teck Puat Hospital

Introduction

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

1    I am delighted to join you today at the launch of the Age-related Macular Degeneration (or AMD) Awareness Week organized by Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

Ageing Population and the challenges for eye care

2    Singapore is one of the fastest ageing societies in the world. Today, one out of every 11 Singaporeans is aged 65 or above. By 2030, the proportion of those aged 65 and above will double to one fifth of the population.

3    Unfortunately as we age, our vision declines too. Based on the World Health Organisation’s data on visual impairment in 2002, AMD is the third most common cause of blindness worldwide, after cataract and glaucoma.

4    In Europe and United States, AMD is reported as the most common cause of blindness after the age of 60 years. Locally, AMD is the third major cause of blindness and low vision, after under-corrected refractive errors and cataracts in our population. Currently more than 30 million individuals worldwide suffer from some form of AMD and this figure is likely to triple over the next 25 years. Hence, AMD is likely to become a significant public health concern in Singapore as our population ages.

Effect of poor vision in the elderly

5    Poor vision, due to diseases such as AMD, has a significant impact on one’s quality of life. It affects essential activities of daily living and also activities like reading, driving and even recognizing faces. Studies have shown that those with poor vision are not only at a higher risk for falls, they are also more likely to be depressed and face social isolation. Therefore, early detection of potentially blinding diseases such as AMD is crucial to limit their impact on our population and healthcare resources.

Public awareness of AMD

6    Blindness is a disability most feared by people and yet, few have even heard of the term 'AMD'.

7    A local study published in 2009 reported that only 7.3% of Singapore residents interviewed were aware of AMD. This is much lower than the awareness levels in western countries like the United States, Canada and Australia.

8    It is therefore important to increase the public awareness of AMD in Singapore so that the public can be educated about the condition, in particular the modifiable risk factors and treatment options available. I have been informed by our ophthalmologists that for the “dry” form of AMD, its progression can be controlled by tackling modifiable risk factors (such as smoking) and having a diet rich in green leafy vegetables and dietary supplementation with antioxidant vitamins. For the “wet” form of AMD, useful vision can be preserved and even improved if the disease is detected early and treated promptly.

Nationwide collaborative effort for AMD in Singapore

9    I am delighted that the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, has taken the initiative to organise the annual AMD Awareness Week in collaboration with partners such as AMD Alliance International, Health Promotion Board, Macular Degeneration Society, healthcare and educational institutions, professional and voluntary organizations as well as public libraries and community centres. The AMD Awareness Week has been successfully organised in Singapore for the past six years with an increasing reach to more and more Singapore residents every year. This September, Singapore joins 24 other countries worldwide in addressing this blinding condition.

10    In this collaborative initiative, eye care professionals such as eye doctors, optometrists, and opticians have joined hands with members of other like-minded voluntary non-profit organisations locally and overseas to educate the public on the importance of having regular eye examinations and seeking treatment early if they have symptoms such as blurring or distortion of vision.

11    I hope that the public, especially the at-risk population, will take the opportunity of this coming week to attend the public forums and eye screenings available in many locations across the country. As the theme of the AMD Awareness Week goes, “Don’t lose sight of AMD”! I wish you a fruitful and engaging week ahead.

Thank you.