EYE CARE CONSULTATION IN SINGAPORE

Did you know one in five kids have a vision problem?

And they often don't know it.

 

When should children have their eyes tested?

We recommend that all children have a comprehensive vision and eye health examination by the age of 5, and regularly through their primary and secondary schooling. Although most young children will have a basic 'vision screening' test carried out by Singapore’s Health Promotion Board at around 6 and a half years of age, this screening is not a substitute for a full eye examination by an optometrist. In fact, we have seen some children with significant vision problems that their screening test had failed to detect.

Children are often not aware of changes in their vision and don't complain of blurred vision. That's why many children with vision problems go undetected. ​So it's important that parents recognise the signs indicating their children may need help with their eyesight. Otherwise, these children may start to fall behind in their educational and social development. Some vision issues, if not diagnosed early enough, can lead to a lifetime of poor vision.

As part of the vision assessment for your children, we can provide a concise written report on our test findings, any issues found, and our management plan for you to take home, and a copy for your child's teacher at school.

Your Eye Care Journey

​All our eye examination procedures are performed by our qualified and experienced optometrist. Our tests are tailored specifically to your individual vision and eye care needs.

1. Arrive for your appointment

We confirm your details for verification purposes.

If you have existing glasses or previous eye reports, we measure and analyse them as a reference point for comparison.

We ask you questions to determine the nature of your visit, understand your needs and any particular concerns you may have about your eyes.

2. Prelimary eye assessment

We begin your eye examination with some preliminary assessments, which include:

• Taking a full-HD digital image of the back of your eyes to check and record your eye health
• Electronic eye focusing and eye shape measurements

3. Detailed eye assessment

We thoroughly test your vision and visual functions. These tests may include:

• Measurement of your eyesight & focusing
• Testing for short-sight, long-sight & astigmatism
• Testing your far-distance and close-up vision
• Checking if you require an optical prescription to see clearly
• Comparing this result to your current eyewear
• Checking your eye movements & eye coordination
• Checking your colour vision
• Detailed health examination of your eyes to look for signs of cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetes & other eye conditions.

4. Explanation & recommendations

We spend time explaining the eye examination findings to you so you can better understand any changes that may have occurred in your eyes and why.

Based on the results, we make specific recommendations for your visual, lifestyle and eye health needs.

These recommendations may be in the form of vision correction (glasses/contact lenses), eye exercises, additional eye assessments, specific eye treatments, referral to an eye specialist or a follow-up eye care consultation review.

Emme Vision is not just a clinic where you can get your vision checked; it is also a safe space to discuss treatment options and recommendations so you can be in the best of health.

5. Additional eye assessments

We will advise you if further assessments are required. These additional tests may include:

• Visual field testing to check your peripheral (side) vision in detail*
• Dilated eye examination to thoroughly check the outer edges of your retina*
• Cycloplegic examination for children to completely relax the focus of their eyes*
• Corneal topography to precisely measure the shape and contours of your eye surface
• Ocular biometry to measure the length of the eye, to monitor eye growth in children with myopia
• Contact lens assessment & fitting

We have a full range of contact lenses available, including daily disposables, fortnightly/monthly lenses, coloured lenses, astigmatism lenses, specialty rigid gas permeable (RGP) and scleral lenses for keratoconus and irregular corneas, and orthokeratology sleep lenses (Ortho-K).

While we endeavour to complete additional tests on the same day where possible, at times we will need to schedule another visit.

As a dilated eye examination can cause temporary blurred vision and glare, we recommend not driving for at least 2-3 hours after the eye care consultation. A cycloplegic examination for a child can blur their close-up vision for the rest of the day.

*Tests will be done at a different location.

6. Frame & lens selection and fitting

If new glasses are recommended, we can expertly help you with choosing your new eyewear frames and recommending the right lens types, lens materials and options for your needs.

Our optometrist & optician will verify your frame fitting, make adjustments and take precise measurements prior to ordering to ensure you can enjoy the best vision and comfort with your new glasses.

We can also arrange the fitting of new lenses into your glasses if you are happy with your existing eyewear frame. Unlike some practices, we don't charge a premium should you wish to reuse your favourite frame.

There are plenty of reasons why you may need to do an eye check up in Singapore. Here are a few common reasons.

Routine Eye Check Up

Your eyesight is the most important of your senses. We use our eyes in every moment of our waking hours so it makes good sense to have your eyes checked regularly to ensure you're seeing your best and that your eyes are healthy.

We recommend having your eyes tested at least every 2 years, whether or not you wear glasses, and sooner if you notice any new issues with your eyes or eyesight since your last visit. Children should be tested annually from the age of 5 as their eyesight can often change more rapidly and they may have vision issues that they are unaware of. Early detection of myopia (short-sightedness) in children gives us the best chance of preventing their eyes from worsening.

Age

As we age, our eyes weaken. Not only do we have more difficulty focusing, especially on near objects, but our eye health can also deteriorate. Cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, dry eye and eye floaters are conditions that can commonly occur with age. Some eye changes are slow and may not be noticeable from day to day, but if left undetected can lead to permanent loss of vision.

If you're over the age of 60, it's a good idea to have your vision checked every year, even if you haven't noticed any eyesight changes. Prevention is better than cure.

Blurred Vision

Optometrists diagnose and manage blurred vision every day. Most causes of blurred vision are correctable with glasses and/or contact lenses — these include myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), astigmatism (irregular eye shape) and presbyopia (difficulty focusing with age). These conditions are known as refractive errors. We will give you proper advice on what are the best ways of correcting your blurred vision issues.

​There are also causes of blurred vision that are not correctable with a new glasses prescription — these may be related to the health of your eyes and can be serious. If you have experienced any blurred vision we recommend having an eye test as soon as possible.

Harder to read up close

Reading and tasks that involve focusing up close — such as using your phone, threading a needle or fine detailed work — will tend to become harder for most people after the age of 45. This is called presbyopia and is related to your eye's natural lens becoming less elastic and less able to adjust focus. People who are naturally long-sighted (hyperopic) can often have near focusing difficulties earlier.

​Many people buy simple ready-made reading glasses or magnifiers when this happens. While these may work as a temporary solution, you should have your eyes tested to determine if a properly prescribed pair of reading glasses may be more suitable for your eyes and your visual needs. Using store-bought reading glasses, in some cases, can cause eye strain and imbalance between the two eyes.
​

Eye strain & headaches

If you experience eye strain symptoms and headaches, you may have eye focusing issues. People who have hyperopia (long-sightedness) are more prone to eye strain when reading and using a computer, as their eyes are continually focusing harder and the eye focusing muscles become overworked. An eye condition called astigmatism is very common and can result in eye strain if undiagnosed. Wearing glasses that may be prescribed incorrectly or are no longer appropriate for your eyes can also cause these symptoms.

Red, pink & itchy eyes

A therapeutically-endorsed optometrist is the right person to consult as your primary-level health care practitioner if you have a red eye condition. Optometrists are equipped with instruments to check the surface of your eyes during the screening to diagnose the cause of your red eye, which may be a case of conjunctivitis, viral infection, eye allergy, dry eyes, inflammation, or other potentially more serious issues. Our optometrist is qualified in ocular therapeutics to prescribe medical treatments for most red eye conditions in Singapore.

Sore eyes & eye pain

A common cause of sore eyes is dry eyes, which occurs if the tear film layer on the eye is insufficient to continually lubricate the eye's surface. We have special technology to evaluate the quality of your tear film to assess for dry eyes, and we can also prescribe treatments for dry eyes. Other causes of sore eyes may be a foreign body in the eye, ingrown lashes, eye infection or eye inflammation. Eye pain can be serious and should be evaluated as soon as possible.

Seeing double

It is not normal to experience double vision. If you have noticed any kind of double vision, particular if it is a new occurrence for you, you should see an optometrist immediately. Recent onset of double vision may be related to a weakness or imbalance in your eye muscles, the nerves that control the eye muscles, or a deeper neurological cause.

Eye floaters & flashes

Eye floaters are tiny grey dots, strings or cobwebs that drift about in your vision as your eyes move. They tend to be more noticeable against a light background, such as the sky or a brightly lit computer screen. Floaters are not uncommon, most people will have a few if they look for them and they tend to occur more with age.

​However, if you notice a sudden increase in floaters, or have noticed some momentary flashes of light in your vision or shadows in your peripheral vision, consult an eye care professional immediately. These symptoms may be related to a serious eye emergency such as retinal tear or retinal detachment. People with high degrees of short-sightedness (myopia) are at higher risk.

Distortion, haloes & starbursts

These symptoms can be associated with migraines or other eye conditions. If you are experiencing these symptoms for the first time, a comprehensive eye examination is highly recommended. We can also assess your peripheral vision where we can find any issues involving the visual pathway. Migraines can sometimes also be triggered by eye focusing issues. To get your vision checked for any underlying condition, it is important to share with your optometrist detailed information of how your migraines feel like, their frequency and severity.

Family history

Many eye conditions and eye diseases are genetic. In children, short-sightedness, long-sightedness and lazy eyes can be hereditary. If you have one of these eye conditions, your children should have their first eye test at a younger age (before 3) and be more closely monitored for eyesight changes. In adults, glaucoma, macular degeneration and retinal detachment are known to run in families and we recommend yearly eye check ups if there is a family history of eye diseases.

Medical conditions

General health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension can cause changes within your eyes. We recommend yearly diabetic eye tests for people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes to monitor for potential diabetic retinopathy. Many prescription medications also can cause side effects on the eyes. Your medical doctor may advise you to have more frequent eye check ups if you have been prescribed medications such as Plaquenil, for rheumatoid arthritis, and corticosteroids.

Renew Driver's Licence

You may have received a letter from the Land Transport Authority in Singapore prompting you to have an eyesight and eye health test to renew your driver's licence for a medical reason. We can assess your eyes in relation to the standards for driving and complete the vision medical examination for you. Our practice is equipped with a colour vision and visual acuity test compatible with medical guidelines for a driver’s licence.

Searching for where to do an eye check up in Singapore? Look no further than EMME Visioncare. Book your consultation today and let us help you with your eye care and eye health concerns.