SPEECH BY MR AMRIN AMIN, SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS & MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AT THE 19TH NATIONAL EYE CARE DAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2018

Adjunct Associate Professor Edmund Wong, Acting Medical Director, Singapore National Eye Centre

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is my pleasure to join you today at the 19^th National Eye Care Day. This year’s theme is “Eye Care for All”, as we recognise the need to reach out to Singaporeans of all ages on the importance of eye health and care.

2.            Eye diseases, especially in their early stages, can be asymptomatic. As a result, patients may neglect their eye health and delay seeking treatment until their condition has substantially deteriorated. As such, early recognition and treatment, especially for at-risk individuals, are crucial.  

3.            Through the efforts of the Singapore National Eye Centre and various eye departments of public hospitals, more than 36,000 people have benefitted from free eye screening and eye health educational activities over the years. This year, I am glad that complimentary eye screening for participants aged 55 and above will be available at multiple healthcare institutions once again. Besides free eye screening, participants can also attend educational talks on common eye conditions such as myopia, cataract, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

FUNCTIONAL SCREENING FOR THE ELDERLY

4.            Given that the prevalence of age-related eye diseases such as cataract and glaucoma is expected to increase with our ageing population, the National Eye Care Day programmes have always been targeted at the elderly patients. In line with the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) focus on preventive health, MOH has partnered Temasek Foundation Cares, corporate donors and community partners to roll out Project Silver Screen, a nationwide functional screening programme for Singaporeans aged 60 years and above, where one component is to bring eye screening to more seniors in the community, and facilitate follow ups for those with abnormal results.

 EARLY DETECTION FOR AT-RISK PATIENTS

5.            We also want to ensure early detection of eye diseases for persons with diabetes. In Singapore, up to 80% of people with long-standing diabetes develop diabetic retinal disease[1] which may not have any symptoms in the initial phase. Left untreated, diabetic retinal disease can lead to blindness over time. It is therefore essential for individuals with diabetes to understand the eye condition, symptoms, preventive measures, and go for regular screening as well as the appropriate follow-up treatment.

6.            While the prevalence of these eye conditions is expected to increase, they can be well managed if detected early. Raising awareness of these conditions, good eye health practice, and targeted screening are important in managing these conditions.

COMBATING MYOPIA IN CHILDREN

7.            Early onset myopia is a common eye condition that affects our children, with about 60% of our children being myopic by 12 years of age[2], and 80% by 18 years of age[3]. Early onset myopia leads to high myopia and potentially blinding pathologic myopia in adulthood. Hence, we hope that parents at this event can attend the talks on childhood myopia and inculcate good eye care habits in their children. The active steps taken to raise awareness and educate would help to reduce the disease burden caused by myopia.

SUPPORT FOR PATIENTS WITH LOW VISION

8.            Not forgetting patients with low vision, SNEC has included talks and exhibitions on aids and services for them in recent years. This is the first year that SNEC will be organising workshops for patients with low vision and caregivers to learn to use features on iPhone and iPad such as the zoom-in function of the camera, to enhance their day-to-day activities. 

CLOSING

9.            SNEC has planned a wide variety of activities to engage Singaporeans of all ages and I believe these efforts coupled with active participation would benefit all who are here today.

10.         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 for all ages. I wish you all a pleasant day ahead.

Thank you.

[1]  Based on Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases study

[2]  Ramamurthy D, Lin Chua SY, Saw SM. A review of environmental risk factors for myopia during early life, childhood and adolescence. Clin Exp Optom. 2015;98(6):497-506

[3] Seet B, Wong TY, Tan DTH, et al Myopia in Singapore: taking a public health approach. British Journal of Ophthalmology 2001;85:521-526