Speech by Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Health, at the 18th National Eye Care Day, 25 November 2017

Professor Wong Tien Yin, Medical Director, Singapore National Eye Centre

Distinguished guests

            I am pleased to be here today at the 18^th National Eye Care Day, jointly organised by Singapore National Eye Care Centre and the eye departments of Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Changi General Hospital (CGH), Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH), National University Hospital (NUH) and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. 

2.         This year’s theme is Eye Care for the Family, and covers the key eye conditions affecting our young and our elderly. Since the launch of the National Eye Care Day in 2000, its purpose has been expanded to meet the changing needs of our population. Today, it has become an important event in raising awareness and promoting eye health among Singaporeans. 

IMPORTANCE OF EYE CARE 

3.         Vision and eye related disorders are significant concerns. The Singapore Burden of Disease (SBoD) Study 2010 reported vision-related disorders as the second leading cause of disability burden in Singapore, and the fourth leading cause of disease burden, which is contributed mainly by uncorrected refractive error and cataract. While vision loss from most eye conditions can be effectively restored, local studies have found that eye conditions are often undiagnosed and untreated due to the lack of awareness of eye health^[1][2][3]. 

4.         Early recognition and treatment of eye conditions especially in at-risk individuals are important as these measures can prevent blindness.  Up to 80% of people with long-standing diabetes will develop diabetic retinal disease^[4] which may have no symptoms in the initial phase, and severe cases can lead to blindness. It is therefore important for individuals with diabetes to receive screening, and more importantly, follow-up with treatment where necessary. This year, aligned with our national effort to fight diabetes, SNEC is providing free screening for diabetic retinal disease. 

VISIONSAVE FUND-RAISING CARNIVAL TO SUPPORT PROMOTING OF RESEARCH AND PUBLIC EDUCATION ON EYE HEALTH 

5.         Singapore has one of the highest rates of myopia in the world, with about 60% of our children being myopic by 12 years of age, and 80% by 18 years of age. Early-onset myopia leads to high myopia and potentially blinding pathologic myopia in adulthood. Children who develop myopia early in life have a higher risk of high myopia as an adult.  Research conducted locally enables us to better understand myopia and its management. For example, our eye institutions have been examining treatment and prevention of myopia through the use of atropine eye drops^[5]   Studies have shown that spending more time outdoors can prevent or delay the onset of myopia. In view of this, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) has been advocating for children to take part in outdoor activities after school and on weekends. Parents and children can learn of the active steps they can take to reduce risks and prevent myopia through today’s activities at the VisionSave Carnival. 

LAUNCH OF MOBILE EYE BUS FOR RESEARCH – DETECTING VISION IMPAIRMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN ELDERLY AND UNDERPRIVILEDGED SINGAPOREANS

6.         Vision loss has a direct impact on one’s well-being, independence and quality of life as the ability to perform daily tasks become challenging when one is unable to see.  Recognising the need to reach out to the elderly who are less mobile, and the under-privileged group, SNEC and SERI are launching their mobile eye bus to research on the impact of providing in-reach eye screening services to these two groups. The Mobile Eye Bus is custom built and contains a full range of eye screening and diagnostic equipment. Those screened in the Mobile Eye Bus will receive screening reports and appropriate advice for follow-ups if necessary. These efforts in research are crucial to enhancing our understanding of eye disease in the elderly and underprivileged, and the impact of in-reach screening services which will serve as a reference for future models of service delivery. 

CONCLUSION

7.         In closing, I would like to thank SNEC and the participating institutions in organising the National Eye Care Day, and promoting the importance of eye-health that reaches out to all ages. I wish you all a pleasant day ahead.

^[1] Olivia S. Huang, Yingfeng Zheng, Wan Ting Tay, Peggy Pei-Chia Chiang, Ecosse L. Lamoureux & Tien Y. Wong (2013) Lack of Awareness of Common Eye Conditions in the Community, Ophthalmic Epidemiology, 20:1, 52-60, DOI: 10.3109/09286586.2012.751429.

^[2] Chua J, Lim B, Fenwick EK, Gan ATL, Tan AG, Lamoureux E, et al. (2017) Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Impact of Undiagnosed Visually Significant Cataract: The Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases Study. PLoS ONE 12(1): e0170804. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170804.

^[3] Huang OS, Tay WT, Ong PG, et al. (2015) Prevalence and determinants of undiagnosed diabetic retinopathy and vision-threatening retinopathy in a multiethnic Asian cohort: the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases (SEED) study. Br J Ophthalmol 2015;99: 1614–1621.

^[4] Based on research conducted SNEC and SERI.

^[5] Based on research conducted by SNEC and SERI by SERI and SNEC on the Atropine Treatment of Myopia (ATOM) which is currently in the third phase where the effects of using low-dose atropine to prevent myopia is tested.