September-October. 2025 | The HEALTH
EYE HEALTH
15
WORLD Sight Day( WSD) serves as a reminder of the vital importance of vision health worldwide, particularly for children.
As the date approaches, Ryan Tan Yeang Zhang, Ding Min Zhuon, and Tan Pei Schier share their perspectives on the significance of this event and the initiatives aimed at raising awareness about eye care.
SIGNIFICANCE OF WORLD SIGHT DAY
For Ryan, WSD is not just an annual event; it is a call to action.
" WSD reminds us how important our vision is. Out of the five senses we have, vision is always the most important in terms of learning and our quality of life."
This day encourages individuals to appreciate their sight and seek preventative care. Ding echoed this sentiment, stating: " It ' s a reminder for everyone to have an eye test."
He emphasised that healthy vision is vital at every stage of life, particularly during childhood. This day presents an invaluable opportunity to educate parents and highlight the crucial role that good vision plays in a child ' s learning and overall well-being.
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
In celebration of WSD, Vision Works is launching a campaign titled
A call to action
" Together We Make Your Vision Work ".
This initiative aims to bring eye care directly to the community, offering free eye tests for children and promoting awareness about myopia. Ding affirmed: " Our mission is simple: to ensure every child ' s future is not limited by poor vision."
Tan, highlighting the need for early detection, stated: " For us, it is a day to reaffirm our commitment to early detection, prevention, and intervention."
" For us, it is a day to reaffirm our commitment to early detection, prevention, and intervention."
The clinic ' s efforts are focused on ensuring that undetected vision problems hold back no child.
FOSTERING AWARENESS AND ENGAGEMENT
Community engagement is essential in raising awareness about eye health. Tan highlighted the importance of building professional relationships with paediatricians and ophthalmologists to ensure children receive specialised care when needed.
" The paediatricians and ophthalmologists are familiar with the work we do, so we work closely with them," she stated.
Through social media and community events, the team at Vision Works is dedicated to fostering a culture of awareness and care that can transform lives.
As WSD approaches, the insights from Ryan, Ding, and Tan serve as crucial reminders of the importance of vision care. Their collective efforts underscore the need for proactive measures and community involvement in ensuring that children ' s eye health is prioritised.
In a world where visual clarity directly impacts learning and quality of life, their message is more vital than ever: " There is no harm in doing regular eye checks."
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including specialised spectacle lenses, soft contact lenses, and vision therapy.
In the fight against myopia, Orthokeratology has emerged as a revolutionary treatment option.
Ryan explained: " Certain designs in Ortho-keratology can slow down the elongation of the eyeball by up to 60-70 per cent."
This method enables direct correction on the cornea, ensuring consistent visual clarity regardless of movement, which is a significant improvement over traditional glasses.
The team at Vision Works stays at the forefront of myopia control, regularly attending courses and collaborating with experts in the field.
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CHILD-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT
Creating a welcoming environment is crucial in promoting positive experiences during eye care visits.
" When children feel safe and welcome, eye care becomes more enjoyable instead of feared," explained Ding.
Vision Works aims to replicate the comfort of home, employing bright, cheerful designs and engaging activities to transform eye tests into enjoyable experiences.
The incorporation of playful areas, kidfriendly tools, and engaging activities helps children relax during their visits.
Tan adds that the clinic features dedicated children ' s corners stocked with frames, allowing youngsters to explore and select their styles.
" First, we study all the available myopia control lenses in the market, ensuring they are clinically proven and effective. Second, we let children take charge of choosing their own frames," she explained.
This empowering approach fosters pride and encourages children to wear their glasses willingly.
Ryan Tan Yeang Zhang
Ding Min Zhuon
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
Ryan recognises the vital role parents play in their children ' s eye health, calling for greater awareness and communication.
" Many parents feel that buying glasses is sufficient, but there ' s so much more we can do," he stressed. Encouraging discussions among parents about eye care can lead to better outcomes for children.
Ding added that Vision Works is committed to fostering community engagement to raise awareness about eye health, particularly concerning children.
As paediatric eye care professionals, Ryan, Ding, and Tan serve as crucial advocates for the importance of vision health. Their collective insights remind us that proactive measures, early detection, and parental involvement are essential for ensuring that every child receives the eye care they deserve.
" It ' s always important to get eye tests to make sure your kids are seeing clearly," Ryan said, advocating for a future where children ' s visual health is prioritised.
" Every child deserves the right to see clearly, to learn confidently, and to live fully," Tan emphasised.
Through initiatives such as free eye tests, educational outreach, and a commitment to comprehensive care, Vision Works addresses not only vision issues but also fosters a culture of awareness and care that can transform lives.- The HEALTH
2025PP15539