Speech by Parliamentary Secretary for Health, A/Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, at the Launch of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital’s AMD Awareness Week,19 May 2013

Mrs Chew Kwee Tiang, CEO, KTPH

A/Prof Kenneth Mak, Chairman Medical Board, KTPH

Dr Yip Chee Chew, Head, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Department, KTPH

Members of the AMD Organising Committee 2013

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. It is my pleasure to join you here today at the launch of the Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Week 2013 organized by Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

Challenges for Eye Care in Our Ageing Population

2 Singapore is one of the fastest ageing societies in the world. Today, one out of every 10 Singaporeans is aged 65 or above and this number is expected to double to one fifth of the population by 2030. Unfortunately as we age, our vision declines too. According to the World Health Organisation’s data on visual impairment in 2010, AMD is the third most common cause of blindness worldwide, after cataract and glaucoma. In Europe and the United States, AMD is the most common cause of blindness after the age of 60 years.

3 In Singapore, AMD is the third major cause of blindness and poor vision, after under-corrected refractive errors and cataracts. With increasing life expectancy and a rapidly ageing population, AMD is likely to become a significant health concern in Singapore.

Effects of Poor Vision in the Elderly

4 Poor vision, due to diseases such as AMD, has a significant impact on one’s quality of life. It affects the essential activities of daily living and also activities like reading, recognizing faces and driving. Poor vision can be a contributing factor to other health problems. Studies have shown that those with poor vision are at a higher risk for falls and also more likely to be depressed and face social isolation. Therefore, educating the public about the prevention, regular screening, treatment and importance of 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

5 The awareness of AMD in Asia is much lower compared to developed countries in the West. A survey on 14 countries carried out by AMD Alliance International found that awareness levels of AMD in the United States were highest at 30%, whereas the awareness levels were among the lowest, at less than 10% in the 2 Asian countries surveyed, which were Hong Kong and Japan. A local study published in 2009 found a similar situation in Singapore with an awareness level of only about 7%, though newer research suggests that awareness is increasing. I am encouraged to note that awareness of AMD among Singapore residents has increased to about 28%, based on KTPH’s study done in 2011.

6 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, importance of screening and available treatment options.

Modifiable Risk Factors for AMD – "Eat Right, Save Sight"

7 The theme of this year’s event is "Eat Right, Save Sight". Studies have shown that having a diet rich in green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits – which are rich in vitamins A, C, E, minerals like zinc and copper may help lower our risk of developing AMD, and control its progression.

8 Another important modifiable risk factor for the development and progression of AMD is cigarette smoking which has been found to double the risk of developing AMD. I would therefore encourage smokers to stop smoking. You can find out more about cessation services by calling the Health Promotion Board’s Quitline.

9 Besides changing our lifestyles, such as quitting smoking and having a healthy diet with plenty of green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits, it is also important to have regular eye examinations for AMD and other eye conditions. Useful vision can be preserved and even improved if AMD is detected early and treated promptly.

Eye Screening

10 As part of AMD Awareness week, the restructured hospitals will partner more than 60 optical shops from the Singapore Optometric Association and the Society of Opticianry Practitioners (Singapore), as well as optometry teaching institutions, and private ophthalmology practices to offer eye screenings for a nominal fee of $10 to the public aged 50 and above.

11 The Health Promotion Board also provides subsidised eye screenings for eligible Singapore residents aged 60 and above as part of the Community Functional Screening Programme. This programme is geared towards not only early detection of functional decline in vision but also in hearing, mood, continence, oral health and physical fitness of the elderly.

12 I strongly encourage all of you to take advantage of these available eye and health screenings because early detection and treatment improves health outcomes.

Closing

13 I am delighted that 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 and professional and voluntary organisations. The AMD Awareness Week has been successfully organized in Singapore for the past 8 years to reach more and more Singapore residents every year.

14 I hope that the public will take the opportunity of this coming week to attend the public forums and eye screenings available in various locations across the country. Let us not lose sight of the risks of AMD and work together to stay healthy so that we can live our lives to the fullest. I wish you a fruitful and engaging week ahead.

15 Thank you.