Speech by Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Health, at the Launch of Awareness of Macular Diseases Week 2018, 13 October 2018

Mrs Chew Kwee Tiang, CEO, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Yishun Health,

A/Prof Yip Chee Chew, Medical Director, Admiralty Medical Centre,

Members of the AMD Organising Committee 2018,

Ladies and gentlemen,

1. Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to join you today for the launch of ‘Awareness of Macular Diseases Week’ organised by Yishun Health.

2. 
   

3. Vision disorders are the fourth leading cause of disease burden in Singapore.Locally, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the third most common cause of blindness and low vision for people aged over 60 years, after cataract and glaucoma.[1] Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) is also the most common cause of vision loss in those with diabetic retinopathy.[2] As our population continues to age, alongside our high prevalence of diabetes, we expect that the number of persons who are at risk or suffering from chronic eye diseases such as AMD or DME would continue to increase.

   
   

   IMPACT OF MACULAR DISEASES

4. Macular disease results in poor vision and significantly reduces one’s quality of life. It hinders us from doing simple daily activities that many of us take for granted, such as reading, driving and even recognising our loved ones. Poor vision also contributes to higher risk for falls, depression and social isolation. If not treated early, diseases like AMD and DME could result in blindness. At the same time, not many people are aware of the symptoms of macular diseases and their treatment options. Such events are therefore important to raise awareness of how to prevent vision disorders, notice early signs of disease, and encourage more people to seek prompt treatment when needed.

   
   ADOPTION OF HEALTHY LIFESTYLE FOR BETTER EYE HEALTH

5. Medical and surgical advances have opened up new treatment options for macular diseases. However, at the moment none of these treatments lead to cure. They only help stop progression of the disease. As such, it is crucial that we all need to take simple steps to prevent the onset of eye diseases.

6. 
   

7. Over the last decade, we have developed a better understanding of how our lifestyle impacts our eye health. For example, smokers are up to four times more likely to develop AMD[3], highlighting the importance of quitting smoking both for persons at risk and those who are already living with AMD. In addition, diabetes is a risk factor, and one in three people with diabetes has diabetic eye disease[4].We can lower the risk of developing such diseases or slow down their progression by adopting a healthy lifestyle. For example, eating a balanced diet rich in green leafy vegetables, exercising regularly, not smoking, and keeping precursor conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control. Persons with diabetes should also undergo regular eye screening to pick up and address any complications early.

8. 
   

9. Through the Community Networks for Seniors, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has also been actively encouraging seniors to attend functional screening, which helps to identify age-related decline in vision, hearing and oral health. Many senior citizens were unaware that they had issues with their vision, hearing and oral health before attending functional screening. Of those who had attended functional screening, about 1 in 2 seniors had some issue with their vision. This is why early detection and intervention is crucial so that we can help seniors to age well in place and enhance their quality of life. Since January 2018, the People’s Association and Silver Generation Ambassadors have helped over 23,000 seniors to register and attend functional screening under Project Silver Screen.

   
   

   NATIONWIDE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT FOR MACULAR DISEASES

10. Since 2005, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) has organised the Age-related Macular Degeneration Week on an annual basis. Although we are still very concerned about diseases among the elderly, the scope of the event has expanded in recent years to include all diseases that affect the macula, not just age-related causes.

11. 
    

12. Now named Awareness of Macular Diseases Week, this is a collaborative effort with partners such as AMD Alliance International, Health Promotion Board, other public hospitals and various organisations. Eye care professionals such as eye doctors, optometrists and opticians have joined hands with like-minded voluntary non-profit organisations to educate the public on the importance of knowing the warning signs and seeking treatment early if they have symptoms such as blurring or distortion of vision.

    
    

    BRINGING EYE CARE CLOSER TO THE COMMUNITY

13. This is also the first time that the Awareness of Macular Diseases Week is held in Kampung Admiralty. Since its opening this year, Kampung Admiralty has demonstrated how a retirement community can be structured to better support our elderly. This includes bringing healthcare services closer to them and integrating healthy living into their everyday lives. For example, KTPH’s Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences has made efforts to bring eye screenings closer to home for elderly residents within the community. These are the mass events that happen once or twice a year. Another example would be KTPH’s Community & Home Eye Screening Services, also known as “CHESS”. It is a community-based eye screening based on a trans-disciplinary collaboration between nurses and optometrists as physician-extenders, under the supervision of ophthalmologists. It provides early detection and management of eye conditions especially for the elderly and less mobile residents. Today, CHESS will be officially opened in collaboration with NTUC Health’s Active Ageing Hub in Woodlands.

14. 
    

15. The Admiralty Medical Centre will also be launching a new initiative aimed at enhancing eye-care in the community. The public will be able to make use of the ‘Macular Amsler Testing App’ (MATA), which is a mobile device application with a built-in education link for those with early stages of AMD to do self-monitoring.

    
    

    CLOSING

16. Our eyes are windows to this beautiful world we live in. Let us continue to witness the many more wonderful moments in our lives. From 13 to 19 October 2018, starting from the launch today, over 100 locations across Singapore will be offering eye screenings for older adults and persons with diabetes. A series of public education forums will also be taking place from now until November. I encourage everyone to take this opportunity to learn more about macular diseases and check your eyes if needed.

17. 
    

18. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank KTPH and their partners for organising the activities and bringing healthcare closer to the community. Each one of us has a part to play, and I hope that we will continue to work together to improve our eye health, as well as that of our loved ones and those around us.

Thank you.

[1] Source: Singapore Burden of Disease Study 2010, Ministry of Health.

[2] Source: U.S. National Eye Institute. Facts about Macular Edema.

[3] Velilla S, Garcia-Medina JJ, Dolz-Marco R, et al. Smoking and age-related macular degeneration: review and update. J Opthalmol. 2013; 2013:895147.

[4] Lee R, Wong TY and Sabanayagam C. Epidemiology of diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema and related vision loss. Eye Vis (Lond).2015;2:17.