Our eyes are priceless windows to the world, allowing us to perceive the beauty and wonder around us. However, like any part of our body, our eyes are susceptible to various ailments that can impair our vision and overall well-being. Therefore, understanding these common eye conditions and their treatments is essential for maintaining good eye health.
Regular eye examinations by an eye care specialist at a reputed eye clinic in Singapore can help detect any issues early, allowing for timely intervention and treatment. This article will take a closer look at some of the most prevalent eye conditions in Singapore and provide useful insights from eye clinic experts on how to manage and treat them.
Common Eye Conditions, Diagnosis, and Treatment
1.) Refractive Errors
Refractive errors are considered one of the most common types of eye problems, affecting millions of people around the world. They occur when the shape of your eye keeps light from focusing correctly on your retina (a light-sensitive layer of tissue in the back of your eye), hindering clear vision. There are four common types of refractive errors:
- Nearsightedness (myopia): makes faraway objects look blurry
- Farsightedness (hyperopia): makes nearby objects look blurry
- Astigmatism: the shape of your cornea or lens can make faraway and nearby objects look blurry or distorted
- Presbyopia: an age-related vision condition in which your eyes begin to lose the ability to focus as you age
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of refractive errors include the following, to name a few:
- Blurry vision
- Eye strain
- Headaches
- Double vision
- Trouble focusing when reading
If you or one of your loved ones are experiencing any of these symptoms, it certainly warrants a trip to an eye clinic in Singapore, where an eye specialist can take a closer look to diagnose and treat your condition.
Treatment
A qualified ophthalmologist (an eye specialist) can effectively treat refractive errors through one of the below-mentioned treatment options.
Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses: Corrective lenses are the simplest corrective treatments. Based on your eye condition, our eye specialist at Advanced Eye Clinic & Surgery will recommend a single-vision lens or multifocal lens to treat your issue.
Refractive Surgery: Some surgeries can correct refractive errors by reshaping the cornea; others do so by implanting a lens in your eye. While the most commonly practised laser eye surgery is LASIK, a number of other vision corrective surgeries, such as PRK, ICL and SMILE are also available.
2.) Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry eye syndrome is a condition where the eyes don’t produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly, resulting in inadequate lubrication, causing discomfort and blurred vision.
Symptoms
The most common dry eye symptoms include the following, to name a few:
- Stinging or burning eyes
- Red or irritated eyes
- Blurred vision, especially when reading
- Itchy or gritty feeling — like some dirt or sand is in your eye
- Dry and crusty mucus around the eyes — especially when you wake up in the morning
Dry eyes can not only make your daily activities, such as reading and driving, more uncomfortable but can also lead to other eye problems if left untreated for long. These include eye infections and inflammation, corneal abrasion, and even vision loss.
While there are many different tests that can help diagnose dry eyes, experienced senior consultant ophthalmologists like Dr Wei-Han and Dr Rosman can easily diagnose your condition during a regular eye checkup at our eye clinic at Orchard Road.
Treatment
Artificial Tears: Over-the-counter eye drops to lubricate the eyes are the first line of treatment, and these are available without a prescription. You may use artificial tears as many times as you like, and there are many brands to choose from. If you are allergic to eye drops with preservatives, opt for a preservative-free one.
Your ophthalmologist will typically prescribe eye drops or ointments to increase tear production or reduce inflammation.
Lifestyle Changes: Our ophthalmologist may also recommend some lifestyle changes, such as using a humidifier, taking breaks from screen time, and staying hydrated.
Inserting Punctal Plugs: Inserting a plug that is the size of a grain of rice into your eye ducts can block the tears from draining out. This helps keep the eye’s surface moist and comfortable, relieving itchy, burning, and red eyes.
3.) Cataracts
Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, leading to blurry or cloudy vision. It is usually an age-related condition but can also be caused by other factors like diabetes, prolonged exposure to the sun (UVA and UVB rays), or prolonged use of certain medications. According to a study conducted on cataract surgery, around 95 million people are affected by cataracts worldwide, making it a very common eye condition. As per the National University Hospital statistics, in Singapore, 78.6% of elderly patients were diagnosed with this condition.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of cataracts include:
- Blurry or hazy vision — it will feel like looking through a foggy or dusty car windscreen.
- Double or ghosted vision
- Extra sensitivity to light
- Having trouble seeing at night
- Seeing bright colours as faded or yellowish
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, consult our specialists at Advanced Eye Clinic & Surgery (at Orchard Road), and they will be able to help make a correct diagnosis.
Treatment
On the treatment end, surgery is the only option for patients diagnosed with cataracts. During the surgery, the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to restore clear vision.
4.) Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye condition that damages the optic nerve, often due to high intraocular pressure. Often called “the silent thief of vision,” glaucoma can lead to gradual vision loss and, if untreated, blindness. It is one of the leading causes of blindness in people over 60 years old.
As per the Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped, “glaucoma accounts for 40% of blindness in Singapore.” However, blindness from glaucoma can often be prevented with early treatment. Glaucoma is classified as primary and secondary glaucoma, further subdivided into two main categories: open-angle and closed-angle.
Symptoms
Unlike other vision conditions, glaucoma has no indicative symptoms, and one may not notice any vision loss until it is in its advanced stages.
Symptoms are more sudden and will typically include:
- Blurry vision
- Eye redness
- Eye pain associated with headaches
This is why it is essential that every individual over the age of 35 go for routine eye checkups at a reliable eye clinic in Singapore.
Treatment
For glaucoma, early detection and treatment are necessary to prevent irreversible damage to your eye and optic nerve.
Medications: Eye drops or oral medications to lower intraocular pressure
Laser Therapy: Procedures like laser peripheral iridotomy and laser peripheral iridoplasty can help lower the pressure and improve fluid drainage
Surgery: Trabeculectomy or a shunt procedure where an opening is created to facilitate fluid drainage in the eye
In some cases, a combination of approaches might be needed for management.
5.) Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes-related condition where high blood sugar levels damage blood vessels in the retina, eventually causing vision loss, if left untreated. This makes it especially important that you get your eyes checked regularly.
Symptoms: You can have diabetic retinopathy and not know it, as the disease often displays no symptoms during its early stages. As it gets worse, you may notice symptoms such as:
- Blurry vision
- Seeing an increasing number of floaters
- Sudden vision changes, sometimes from blurry to clear
- Having poor night vision
- Seeing blank or dark areas in your field of vision
Treatment
The treatment plan for diabetic retinopathy will depend on the diagnosis. Your ophthalmologist will conduct a few essential steps to determine the stage of the disease and the best course of treatment.
Blood Sugar and Blood Pressure Control: This is the key to minimising further damage to your vision. Your eye specialist will discuss lifestyle changes you can make for effective blood sugar control.
Regular Monitoring: Routine eye exams to monitor the progression of the disease are recommended for all patients diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy.
Medication: Anti-VEGF medication will reduce the swelling of the macula and slow down vision loss.
Laser Treatment: Laser therapy can be used to seal off leaking blood vessels, thereby preventing or slowing down the progression of the disease.
Advanced Eye Clinic & Surgery – For All Your Vision Concerns
Eye experts play a vital role in diagnosing and treating a range of eye conditions, from refractive errors to more complex issues like cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Through comprehensive eye examinations and specialised testing, our expert team of ophthalmologists arrives at precise diagnoses and tailored treatment plans to ensure you receive the finest vision care in Singapore.
Let our professionals help preserve and improve your vision, ensuring you enjoy a higher quality of life. Our specialists recommend regular eye checkups and adhering to the treatment plan set forth by eye experts for optimal eye health. Contact Advanced Eye Clinic & Surgery today for your next appointment.