Eye Specialist in Singapore: 12 Scary Eye Problems your Eye Specialist wants you to know about
An eye specialist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of ophthalmological disorders. The commonest purpose driven individuals to visit an eye specialist is for corrective measures related to refractive errors and cataracts, among other vision problems.
However, there are some little-known eye conditions that your optometrist may also be looking out for when you go for a checkup. Asia Retina is an Eye Specialist in Singapore that manages eye conditions.
What can an Eye Specialist Detect?
Eye specialists are not only concerned with refractive errors, but they are also on the lookout for eye tumors in some cases. So, the next time you visit your eye specialist in Singapore, remember that you might be required to give a urine sample for a test of levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which is used as a marker for cancer. Here are twelve scary eye problems that eye specialists can help you detect.
1) Eye Cancer
Cancer is one of the most feared conditions, but it has become one of the most treatable forms of illness in terms of survival rates if detected early. Now, the possibility of getting an eye tumor is very small. However, this may prompt you to visit your optometrist regularly if there are risk factors such as a family history or exposure to UV radiation from artificial sources such as tanning beds and sunlamps, among other reasons. Always remember that cancer starts somewhere, so catch it early!
2) Retinal Detachment
Retinal detachment is basically when the retina separates from its normal position. There are numerous causes of this condition, which include aging, high nearsightedness (presbyopia), eye tumors, and injuries to the eye. Eye specialists like optometrists can diagnose retinal detachments in most cases because they have trained with special devices that assist in scanning your retinas.
3) Ocular Hypertension
The Optic Nerve Head Automatic Perimeter (ONHAP) device is another example of a tool that helps eye specialists to detect ocular hypertension. It normally measures mechanical forces on the optic nerve head and tracks any changes over time if glaucoma or other conditions such as papilledema are present. In other instances, optometrists may be required to send you for a complete eye examination if there are visible changes in the optic nerve.
4) Tear Duct Plugs
Tear duct plugs are tiny little ‘plugs’ inserted into tear ducts mainly used as a treatment option for dry eyes. They are made from silicone or collagen and are available at pharmacies. However, they can become dislodged by activities such as swimming, thus prompting an iridologist to check your eyes carefully for any signs of tears streaming down your face when you sleep. This is because it could be an indication that the plug has not been inserted correctly into the tear duct.
5) Red Eye
Red eyes are one of the commonest reasons why you may want to visit an eye specialist in Singapore. Most often than not, they will not find anything out of the ordinary with your eyes even after careful examinations, but they may refer you to an ophthalmologist if there are any signs of corneal edema. Corneal edema is an eye condition characterized by eyes feeling like they are full of sand. Other symptoms include blurry vision and discomfort while wearing contact lenses, among other problems.
6) Retinal Toxicity
Retinal toxicity is basically an eye condition characterized by damage to retinal cells after high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. These treatment options could be the only hope in removing a life-threatening tumor, but they can cause severe damage to your retina, resulting in loss of vision if timely interventions are not carried out promptly. This is why optometrists should always look for signs such as swelling and bleeding when you visit them during your checkups.
7) Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis or pink eye refers to an inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the thin membrane that covers the white portion of your eyes. It normally affects the inner corner of your eyes and gets worse when you try to wipe or scratch them. Your optometrist will be able to tell if something is irritating your eyes excessively by looking closely at the inside corners of your eyelids for signs such as redness, itching, and discharge.
8) Glaucoma
Glaucoma refers to a group of eye conditions characterized by increased pressure in the eyeball, which in turn causes damage in the nerves surrounding the optic disc responsible for sending messages from your retina to your brain. If you are 40 years old, it is very possible for your optometrist to find ocular hypertension if you have not had your eyes checked yet. Optometrists can easily measure the intraocular pressure at their practice using an instrument called a tonometer. However, many people will not show any symptoms until quite late, which is why they should be tested regularly during routine checkups.
9) Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa or RP is a genetic eye condition that causes the retina to degenerate over time which eventually leads to blindness. Other than blurred vision and loss of night vision, there are no other symptoms associated with this rare form of hereditary disorder.
10) Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that causes specific muscles to weaken over time. It can affect your eye movements which will cause specific parts of your eyes (iris, pupil, and cornea) to become involved in muscle activity. When moving your eyes, you may not be able to move them as quickly as you used to and even experience double vision or cloudy vision.
11) Macular Dystrophy
Macular dystrophy refers to a genetic disorder where the macula at the back of our eyes slowly degenerates, causing reduced central vision and poor color perception, among other symptoms. If it affects one eye only, it is known as monocular vision loss, which is very common for elderly patients who do not realize that their vision is deteriorating slowly with age.
12) Corneal Scarring
Corneal scarring is a common eye problem where the eye’s transparent cornea becomes damaged, which can result in reduced eyesight. Usually, it will be caused by bacteria or even contact lens use without proper care and attention. When your eye specialist in Singapore checks this condition, they will use a special dye to see whether everything looks normal underneath the top layer of the cornea before applying antibiotic drops for up to one week.
The Bottom Line
Visiting an eye specialist is very important not just for eye-related problems but also to ensure that your eyes are healthy. If you have not had an eye exam recently, make sure to do so at least once every two years to prevent any possible complications later in life.
At Asia Retina, we offer a broad range of eye-related services that will help you maintain the health of your eyes. We have a team of dedicated and professional eye specialists who can provide all necessary diagnostic procedures related to your eyes. If you have any questions about our services, please visit our website to submit a contact form or call us today to schedule an appointment with one of our optometrists.
If you need a good eye specialist in Singapore, call Asia Retina on +65 6732 0007.
Asia Retina – Eye specialist (Ophthalmologist) in Singapore, Dr Claudine Pang
#15-10 The Paragon, 290 Orchard Rd, 238859
+65 6732 0007
