FAQS

Blurring of vision may be due to a variety of reasons. Some are benign but others may indicate serious diseases. You should seek help early if:

• Your vision deteriorated quickly or suddenly.
• Your vision is making daily life inconvenient, or if you are no longer able to see well enough to do your favourite things like reading, playing golf, travelling, etc.
• Your blurred vision does not improve with glasses or contact lenses.

Many serious eye diseases may not cause symptoms in the initial stages. Eye examinations serve to pick up diseases early so that treatments can be done before irreversible damage occurs. Regular eye examinations are generally recommended for:

• Adults over 45 years of age
• Smokers
• Pre-existing medical conditions like diabetes
• Family history of eye diseases like macular degeneration, glaucoma, etc
• Eye-hazardous occupations e.g. driving for long hours in strong sunlight, etc
• Suspicious symptoms

Symptoms should be taken seriously if they develop suddenly, are persistent or worsen. If in doubt, it is best to err on the side of caution and seek advice early. Some suspicious symptoms include:

• Sudden, persistent, fluctuating or worsening blurred vision
• No improvement in vision despite glasses
• Sudden floaters and/or flashes of light
  • Loss of side vision
  • Distorted vision
  • Eye pain, swelling, discharge and/or eye redness
  • Eye pain and blurring of vision with headache, nausea and vomiting
  • Double vision

Loss of central vision can indicate severe macular disease and should be checked out as soon as possible.

Although there is nothing we can do about getting older, there are steps we can take to slow down the ageing process and cut down the risk of developing degenerative disorders:

• Smoking is strongly associated with age-related macular degeneration. Stopping smoking will reduce the risk of this disease significantly.
• Over-exposure to too much ultraviolet radiation may cause cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. You should protect yourself from strong sunlight by wearing sunglasses.
• Take a healthy diet with adequate antioxidants, lutein & zeaxanthin. Check with your eye doctor if you are suitable to take the AREDS-2 vitamin supplements which has been shown to reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.
• Some of the most serious high-velocity eye injuries occur while engaging in sporting activities like badminton and squash, or while using high-speed tools in the work-place and at home. You should protect your eyes from flying projectiles (shuttle cocks, squash balls or flying metal shards) by wearing protective goggles during these activities.
• Reduce eye strain during intense near work (like reading, watching movies on your iPad, sewing, etc) by applying the 20-20-20 rule. This involves taking breaks every 20 minutes by look away at about 20 feet (6m) ahead of you for about 20 sec. Using lubricating eyedrops before and during prolonged reading will help relieve dry eyes.

Change in the home environment can make a big difference. These may include:

• Installing adequate white lighting in important living space like the kitchen, reading room, etc. Motion-controlled lights that turn on upon entering a room will prevent accidents from poor lighting.
• Stick colored marking tape on the edge of steps to prevent falls.
• Use modified clocks, watches and reading material with large print to make reading easier. Magnifiers and visual aids may be useful. Otherwise talking clocks and audio-books are also available. Ask your eye doctor about the range of devices available and where to get hold of them.
• If one hopes to drive, one will need to be formally assessed by an eye doctor as to whether driving safety guidelines are met.

Basic tests before seeing the eye doctor will include a vision test and eye pressure measurement. Depending on your vision, a detailed measurement of your required “glasses power” may be required.

Your eye doctor will check the front of your eye with a special microscope and if the back of your eye (the retina) requires checking, your pupil will need to be enlarged (dilated) with eyedrops. During the eye examination, bright lights will be shone in your eyes. The examination will not hurt, and the bright lights used will not cause damage.

A special microscope (a slit lamp) is used to examine the front and back of the eye during a detailed eye examination.

Your eye doctor will then discuss with you the other tests that may need to be performed based on preliminary findings.

A detailed eye examination may take several hours so it is best to schedule it when you have ample time. If a your pupils have been dilated, your vision may be temporarily blurred (for 3-6 hours) after the examination. This blurring of vision tends to affect near vision more than distance vision, and you may experience more glare. A pair of sunglasses will help reduce glare. It is best to avoid driving for a few hours after the eye examination and if possible, you should arrange for someone to accompany you on the day of the examination.

A normal sized pupil is too small for a complete and detailed examination.

A dilated pupil allows the back of the eye to be examined. However, the vision may be blurred for a few hours after the pupil is dilated.

Please bring along the following:

• Identity card or passport for registration
• Insurance cards if any
• Referral letters from your referring doctor
• Current glasses and old glasses, or prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses
• Any medical reports and investigations
• Details (medication name, strength, dose) of medication you are on, or medication in their original containers or packaging