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Prof Au Eong Kah Guan

Have you ever imagined what it would be like without having an eye? There are many who are deprived of sight. This tiny little human organ is the most dominant sense. Like other body parts, eye sight tends to become feeble with age. While in most cases, it may be due to the normal physiological changes due to ageing, while others are due to disease and pathological effects. However as a layman it would be difficult to ascertain whether poor vision is due to normal ageing process or cause of some disease in eyes. Thus it is very important to consult a professional if you have developed symptoms of poor eyesight.

Diagnosing and undergoing treatment at an early stage will help in preserving the sight and prevent permanent blindness. It is healthy to get your eyes checked at regular intervals. This will be beneficial as eye disease may affect at the age of 40 and above when changes in vision begin to occur. If you have developed any symptoms of eye disease or other risks factors like diabetes, it is mandatory to consult an eye doctor.

Some common age related visual changes may be due to inability to focus distant or near objects, reduced clarity of vision, inability to distinguish certain colors, lack of contrast sensitivity, inability to judge distance and depth, and reduced capacity to focus on low light. The most common eye diseases are glaucoma, cataract, age-related muscular degeneration, red eye, retinopathy and pterygium.

While some are inherited and develop symptoms, various ethnic groups, diabetic and short sighted persons and smokers are prone to high risk. The age related eye diseases include glaucoma, AMD, cataract, and diabetic retinopathy. Glaucoma occurs due to damage in optic nerve by high fluid pressure inside eye, which can gradually lead to total blindness. Treatment is through medication, surgery or laser therapy. AMD affects a part of retina which gives you sharp vision.

There are two types of AMD, one being dry and the other wet. In dry AMD there is loss of vital cells in macula, whereas in wet AMD, there is bleeding and leakage of fluids due to growth of blood vessel below the macula.

AMD treatment includes thermal laser therapy, photo dynamic therapy, and injection of drugs into eyes. Cataract is clouding near the eye lens that blocks rays entering eyes, thus blurring the image. Surgery may be the only effective way to get rid of cataract. Diabetic retinopathy is the major cause of poor vision for working population. Leakage from blood vessels results in swelling of retina and lipid formation.

Diabetic patients are more prone to developing this eye disease and if you have diabetes, be sure to have retinal examination done once every year. Vision impairment may restrict you to enjoy a quality life by limiting freedom, mobility and clear vision.

Many of these eye diseases can be treated if diagnosed at an early stage. So if you have the desire to have sight for life, get your eyes checked at regular intervals.

Adjunct Associate Professor Au Eong Kah Guan is Medical Director and Senior Consultant in Ophthalmology at the Singapore International Eye Cataract Retina Centre in Mount Elizabeth Medical Center.

For more information, please visit www.eyecataractretina.com

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