Health

Many people ignore changes in their vision. Some even wait until it starts to affect their lifestyle before they decide to visit an eye doctor. But, eye problems do not always show signs. That’s why you need to have your eyes checked on a yearly basis if you want to avoid vision problems.

According to American Academy of Ophthalmology, you need to get a baseline eye examination at the age of 40. This is also the age when early signs of common eye diseases or changes in vision can start to manifest. Similar to screening of other diseases such as diabetes or cancers, reaching 40 is a reminder to everyone to be more active in taking care of both their eye and overall health. Visiting an eye specialist in Singapore can help check for signs of eye diseases before it worsens.

While 40 years of age is the suggested age to get an all-inclusive eye exam, there are possibilities when you need to have it at an earlier age. If you already have an eye injury or eye diseases, you must see an eye specialist in Singapore more often.

During the examination, your eye specialist will help you learn more about your eye condition. This examination even allows the doctor to check if you have any other eye diseases and assess how your eyes work together. The eyes are also good indicators if someone has chronic health problems, which include diabetes or high blood pressure.

You only need about 40 minutes to an hour to complete an eye exam. This will cover the following:

1. Medical history – after evaluating your vision and overall health, your doctor will check your medical history. This is for him or her to have a better knowledge of the causes of your eye problem. Your eye doctor also needs to know if you have had any eye injuries before. Even your previous eye prescriptions should be discussed during eye exam.
2. Visual field testing – loss of side vision may be caused by However, some persons do not know that they have lost their side vision until they visit an eye specialist for an exam.
3. Pupils – during the eye examination, your doctor will also evaluate your pupils. He or she will check if it responds to light by using a beam light through the pupils. Your pupils should constrict or become smaller during this test. If it dilates or there’s no response, then this is an indication of an eye problem.
4. Dilated fundus examination – eye drops will be instilled to enlarge your pupils. This lets the doctor to check the retina for any bleeding, swelling, or retinal tears or holes.
5. Visual acuity – this is when your eye doctor will ask you to read a standardized eye chart to check how well you see at various distances. It will be done 1 eye at a time.

Your eye doctor may suggest further eye tests to see how your eyes are using other specialized techniques. These eye examinations can be helpful in diagnosing a disease in early stages so your doctor can detect if there are abnormalities in any areas of your eyes.

After these tests, your doctor will explain to you his or her findings. Don’t hesitate to inquire or jot down notes to make sure you understand about your eye’s health.

Don’t wait until you have trouble watching TV or seeing objects close up. Visit Atlas Eye to have your eyes checked by a professional. Check out their site for more details!

Regardless of our age, there are always changes happening to our vision. In most cases, eye checks are usually carried out annually, unless there are preexisting eye conditions. Should that be the case, it is wise to visit an eye doctor in Singapore to have your eyes checked.

Usually, you need to undergo a comprehensive eye exam annually to see to it that your eyes stay healthy and your vision remains sharp. However, if you have the following conditions, you may need to undergo an eye exam more frequently:

• Previous eye injury or eye trauma
• Previous eye surgery
• High level of eye prescription
• Lazy eye
• Medical conditions such as diabetes
• Ocular disorder
• Family history of certain eye or health problems such as glaucoma and macular degeneration

There are also occurrences when you need to undergo an eye examination immediately or even if you are not yet planned to get one. These include:

• If you experience abrupt blurring of vision – these eye problems can be signs of a bigger health concern and must be immediately checked by an eye doctor in Singapore.

• If you suddenly see flashes of light, floaters, or other visual disturbances – visual disturbances mentioned could be signs that you have a serious and vision-threatening disorder. It could be because of a retinal tear, retinal detachment, or retinal hole. Don’t wait for these symptoms to worsen and seek immediate medical care within the next twenty-four hours. This will diminish risks of vision loss.

• If you notice that your vision is progressively becoming blurry – when this symptom starts to be evident, it could mean that your vision is gradually weakening. If you need to squint or to move further away from a book or a computer screen just to improve clarity, it may be time to schedule for an eye exam.

• If you always experience headaches – recurring headaches could be a sign that you have a vision problem. You may not notice it at first since the changes in your vision could manifest gradually. Headaches can be an early warning sign of something more serious.

• If you feel eye strain or eye fatigue – eyestrain can happen from time to time, but it is not to be ignored. It may be due to exhaustion, not having enough sleep, or long hours of near work. However, if it has been recurring for a few days, it may be best to have it checked.

• If you always squint – another typical sign that it’s time for an eye exam is squinting. We typically squint to improve our eyes’ focus or if the eyes are having difficulty looking or reading. Squinting reduces light scattering, leading to improved vision. It is also the first sign we see in kids if they need eyeglasses. So, if you notice that your child frequently squints when reading or watching television, it will be best to have him or her scheduled for an eye exam.

Eye examinations are important to see changes in your vision or overall health. It is also be effective in aiding you avoid complications or see the natural changes in the eyes as you age.

If you have further questions about eye exams, contact Atlas Eye. Visit their website or call their office to find out more about eye care services today!

Your eye’s lens works same as a camera lens. It focuses light onto your retina to allow you to have perfect vision. It is also accountable for adjusting the eye’s focus so you can see things distinctly whether it is up close or far away. This lens is made up of protein and water.

As we age, the protein in the lens may clump together and cloud a certain area of the lens. This is how a cataract forms. Over the years, the lens becomes progressively cloudy. As a result, it makes it harder for a person to see things at certain distance, and sometimes at night.

Researches from different parts of the world have identified factors that cause cataracts. These causes include:

Age – as we age, the protein in our eyes can clump as we age

Traumatic – cataracts may form after an eye injury

Secondary – cataract can also be acquired due to a medical condition, such as diabetes. You can also get it by being exposed to ultraviolet light, toxic substances, or radiation. Taking medicines like corticosteroids or diuretics can also cause cataracts.

Congenital – when babies are born with cataracts, the condition is called congenital. This may be due to injury, infection, or even poor development of the baby in the womb during pregnancy. It can also develop in childhood.

Other risks of cataracts are include:

• High level of myopia
• Previous eye injury or inflammation
• Previous eye surgery
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Prolonged intake of corticosteroid medications
• Significant alcohol consumption

Treating cataract:

If you have cataracts, it does not mean that you immediately need to undergo a cataract surgery. When symptoms begin to manifest, you may still be able to improve your vision by wearing prescription eyeglasses or any other visual aids.

Consider surgery once the cataracts start to progress enough that it is already beginning to affect your day-to-day life. If you are considering about undergoing this surgery, make sure to choose a reliable eye care center to make sure you get top-quality service. They will help you learn whether you need the surgery or not.

What to expect in cataract surgery:

Cataract surgery is designed to improving a patient’s quality of life and in certain cases, to remove the need to wear contact lenses or eyeglasses. However, some patients may still need to use glasses, based on the type of lens implant inserted. During cataract surgery, the eye specialist will eliminate the cloudy lens and then use a clear artificial lens called intraocular lens as a replacement. This surgery only needs about half an hour to complete and painless and safe. As it can be done as an outpatient method, you are able to go home on the same day after the surgeon has already finished the post surgery check. This means that you will have enough time to rest at home and begin to adjust to your new vision.

If you are still in search for a qualified eye care center in Singapore, be sure to visit Atlas Eye. They are known for delivering high-quality and evidence-based eye care services at reasonable rates. This Singapore-based ophthalmology specialist centre is known in the country for harnessing the advantages of the latest techniques and technology to offer optimal results to their patients who need eye health enhancement or rehabilitation. Their friendly staffs deliver quality services and help you achieve great results in every examination, treatment and surgery. Choose Atlas Eye for advanced cataract surgery, glaucoma treatment, childhood eye treatment, refractive surgery, or diabetic treatment.

If your cataract is changing your lifestyle and how you do your day-to-day activities, it may be the right time to discuss with your doctor about cataract surgery. During this surgery, your eye surgeon will remove the clouded lens or the remove cataracts to improve your eyesight. They will use numbing eye drops so the patient will only feel little to no pain during the procedure.

If you are already decided to undergo this procedure, here’s how you can prepare for it:

Stop certain medications – you may want to inform your doctor if you are taking medications. This is so that they can tell you whether you need to continue or stop taking it. Certain medicines could increase the possibilities of your eyes bleeding during the surgery.

Take eye tests – a week before your scheduled operation, your doctor will do an ultrasound test to measure your eye’s size and shape This test will also determine the right kind of intraocular lens that will best fit your eye’s condition and needs.

Avoid eating or drinking before your surgery – your doctor may ask you not to drink or eat anything for several hours before the procedure. It will be best to ask your doctor for your peace of mind.

Arrange a ride home – while you can expect to see improvements in your vision after the surgery, you will still need to arrange transportation. Your doctor will not allow you to drive since you may still feel drowsy or have blurry vision due to the sedatives.

Use eye drops – your doctor may prescribe you with eye drops to help reduce any risk of infection. You may also need to use it for a day or two before the surgery to ensure that your eyes are free of any debris or germs that could cause infection.

Once the cataract surgery is done, your eye specialist will advise you to wear an eye protective cover and take some rest in a post-operative room. Here’s what you may expect after the operation:

• You might feel a bit dizzy due to the anesthesia but this will eventually wear off after a few hours.
• Your surgeon will give you advices on how to take care of your eyes to ensure that it heals well after the surgery.
• Ask the surgeon about your follow-up appointment and do your best not to miss it.
• You will be advised to take medicines, which includes antibiotics or anti-inflammatory eye drops. You are advised to drop it for the next few weeks until you fully recover from the operation. Follow your doctor on the dosages as well as schedule on when you will take it.
• You may feel a bit of irritation or stinging in your eyes. Bear in mind that this is still part of the healing process, so avoid rubbing your eye.
• Always wear your protective eye shield while you sleep to avoid accidentally rubbing or putting pressure on your eyes.
• Avoid any strenuous activities or sports for at least 1 month. In case you have to go to the gym or your job requires you to lift heavy things, you might want to take a few days off.

Are you still searching for an eye care center in Singapore? Don’t think twice and get in touch with Atlas Eye to learn more about their quality surgery services. You may also check out their website for details.

ReLEx SMILE surgery is perfect for patients who are above the age of eighteen and have refractive errors such as myopia as well as astigmatism. It is also encouraged for patients who do contact sports and want to evade the risk of flap dislodgement. It is a contemporary surgical procedure that is quick and bladeless, yet has impressive vision correction results.

After PRK as well as LASIK, ReLEx SMILE is the third generation of laser vision correction. It is commended for its contemporary advantages such as eliminating the need to make a corneal flap and also the lengthy recovery time needed due to surface ablation. When you choose this surgery, you will only need a small incision on your eye’s corneal surface using the femtosecond laser. Since the cut made on the cornea is small, Relex Smile allows for faster recovery and minimum discomfort.

Why many patients prefer this procedure:

1. Lower risk of developing dry eye – As Relex SMILE surgery only makes a small incision of 2-4mm, it leaves a huge portion of corneal nerves intact. As a result, patients experience lesser dry eyes after surgery.
2. Faster recovery time – Due to the smaller incision size, the healing process is quicker as compared to LASIK.
3. Gentle yet rapid procedure – ReLEx SMILE surgery is a 1-laser procedure as compared to LASIK and PRK. Because of its unique way of vision correction, the duration of ReLEX SMILE is almost the same across all degrees.

How does ReLEx SMILE work?

The 1st thing your eye care specialist will do is to administer anaesthetic eye drops to avoid any discomfort during the surgery. Next, a femtosecond laser is used to create a small incision along with a lenticule inside the cornea. Once done, the corneal tissue or lenticule will then be removed through the small cut. By doing so, the shape of your cornea will be altered for the vision to have the proper refractive outcome.

There are only several eye care centers in Singapore that have Relex Smile services, so you need to make sure to trust the one that is reliable. To see to it that you are fit to undergo this surgery, visit a skilled eye care center like Atlas Eye. This clinic is ideally located in Paragon Medical, Orchard Road. Atlas Eye is a reliable eye can center that is independently owned as well as operated by a qualified ophthalmic surgeon. With their team member’s years of experience in delivering quality eye care service, they make a good choice for any eye care procedures you may need.

Headed by Dr. David Chan, their well-informed staff is known for offering high quality service at all times. He has attained his postgraduate degrees in Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, Scotland and from the National University of Singapore. Dr. Chan is a proud associate of different international ophthalmology societies, which includes the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Asia Pacific Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, and even the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.

Do you want to learn more about ReLEx SMILE services? Be sure to contact Atlas Eye today. You may also check out their website to have an appointment.