This is why we do primary eye screening and invest in all these eyes diagnostic machinery .” |
|||||
|
BY KHIRTINI K KUMARAN
EYESIGHT is the most important sense of our body . Therefore , its safety and health should be of utmost priority . “ We need to be concerned about our eye health and safety to reduce the risk of reduced vision , ocular diseases and blindness . Remember , prevention is better than cure ,” stressed optometrist Alicia Wong Lee Sia , the founder of Eye Street Optometrist . “ Imagine waking up one day with no vision , a complete blackout . It will be too late to worry about the safety and health of your eyes .”
SEEK A QUALIFIED EYE CARE PRACTITIONER
According to Wong , public awareness of eye health and safety is low . She recommends having a primary eye test done once or twice a year .
“ You may need to have your eyes tested more frequently , every three to six months if you have a medical condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure .”
“ It is important to consult a qualified eye care practitioner such as an optometrist because we can provide accurate prescriptions and help choose the lens that best suits your eye condition and lifestyle .”
Apart from a prescription , optometrists can monitor eye health through eye examinations and are trained to detect possible visual threatening diseases .
“ We will then advise on the best action to take care of their eyes . And if we find any issues which require further examination or treatment , we will refer them to eye specialists or ophthalmologists .
“ As primary eye care practitioners , we want to prevent irreversible vision loss .
|
Alicia Wong Lee Sia
of wearing contact lenses
|
DO ’ s
• Wash your hands before ever touching contact lenses
• Check the contact lenses are not inside out before applying
• Check your contact lenses daily for damage
• Regularly clean contact lenses as prescribed
• Change solution in your case daily
• Put on your makeup only after inserting contact lenses
• Have regular eye checkups as advised
• Discard contact lenses that are past their expiry date
|
CORRECTING VISION PROBLEMS
Wong said contact lenses allow users to see , feel , and play well . “ Contact lenses can correct most vision problems and move with the eye for correction , which can feel and look natural .
“ It also provides a wider field of view and better peripheral vision than glasses due to the lens being in contact with the eye . It eliminates the irritation caused by being able to see the edge of a glasses frame .
“ Contact lenses also provide users with choices of beauty and coloured lenses to match their looks and image for the day . It allows individuals to maintain a natural appearance without glasses or , if they choose , to change the appearance of their eyes with coloured contact lenses .”
Moreover , she said , well-fitted contact lenses stay in place on the eyes and therefore a better option to wear when playing sports or engaging in outdoor activities .
“ Studies have also shown that specially fitted contact lenses may help slow the progression of near-sightedness ( myopia ),” she added .
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care ’ s ACUVUE contact lenses is a well-known brand , shared Wong . “ As an eye care practitioner , I am confident in prescribing ACUVUE contact lenses to our customers .
“ There is a wide range of ACUVUE products and they also provide trial contact lenses which allow consumers , especially new wearers , to try and choose the most comfortable ones . – The Health
DON ’ Ts
• Never share the same contact lenses with others
• Don ’ t wear damaged or torn contact lenses
• Stop wearing them when experiencing irritation or discomfort
• Don ’ t sleep with your contact lenses on ( unless approved by a doctor )
• Never use tap water or saliva to wet contact lenses
• Do not wear contact lenses when swimming
|