Your eyes become more susceptible to disease and damage with age. Aside from cataract, or clouding of the lens of the eyes, you may develop eye conditions such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy – which display no symptoms during the early stages. It is only through early detection and treatment that you will be able to slow down or even reverse the progression of eye disease.

Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan​, Senior Consultant from the Department of General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology at Singapore National Eye Centre, gives detailed answers to your questions.​​​

Question by mosmos

Hi Dr Wang,

As I age, I seem to see more floaters across my field of vision. Although it does not affect my daily life now, will this problem lead to decrease vision in the future? Is it advisable to remove the floaters from my eyes now to prevent further growing more? Thanks.

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Please see an eye doctor to exclude retinal problems.

Question by Octane

Dear Dr Wang,

Are there any food or supplement in aid of better eyesight and to prevent any eye disease?

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Eat well, balanced diet is important not just for the eye but also for general wellbeing. Suppliments are only useful if the required nutrition are lacking.

Question by dsim

Hi Dr Wang,

What are the causes of these eye diseases? Is it due to ageing?

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Thank you for your enquiries. The answers will require volumes to be written. For your convenience, please refer to our informative SNEC website for information on the relevant problems. Thank you.

Question by chai

Hi Dr,

What is the recommendation for eye checkup/detection frequency? Yearly?

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

There is no guideline for any eye checks. Patients with diabetes should check with their family doctor to book an annual retinal photo. It would be advisable for those with family history of glaucoma to have annual check-up. Annual visit to the spectacle shop can be useful to optimise vision. Some ophthalmologist also advocate annual eye review after the age of 40 years old.

Question by simly6

Hi Dr,

Is there any natural food that are good for eyes?

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Eat well, balanced diet is important not just for the eye but also for general wellbeing. Suppliments are only useful if the required nutrition are lacking.

Question by sch

Hi Dr,

What are the treatment available for clouding of eye lens?

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Cataract surgery.

Question by guethui

Dear Dr Wang, what can be done to improve hyperopia? Is lasik recommended?

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Hyperopia can be easily corrected with glasses. Lasik corrects myopia well but it is less successful with hyperopia. Do check with an ophthalmologist with regards to your needs and correction.

Question by [email protected]

Hi Dr Wang,

Why is tht my left eye hurts when encountering even a light gust of wind. I need to close my left eyes as often as possible. N my right eye vision is hovering bwtn clear n blurr most times. I alrdy had cataract implants in both eyes. Age 54. Appreciates your advice. Thank you very much.

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

You have severe dry eye symptoms. Please consult an eye doctor.

Reposted by administrator

Dear Dr Wang, I am 38 year old. I have been experiencing floaters (flies like thing) in my right eye whenever I closed my eyes for the past two years. Please advise. Thank You.

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Please see an eye doctor to exclude retinal problems.

Question by wondergirl

Dear Dr Wang,

My mother is 70 year old. She has history of DM (type 2), Hpyertension and Hyperlidemia. She has been complaining of tearing of both eyes two months ago. Why is that so? Please advise. Thank You.

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Dry eye symptoms are extremely common and she can try OTC artificial tears. If symptoms do not improve, she should consult and eye doctor to exclude other problems.

Question by janej2003

I'm a 33-yr-old female. I recently changed my spectacles. Previous pair: no astig (though I probably had 0.25 astig) and the shortsightedness was R400 L450. The new pair was needed as my eyes were easily tired, especially at night and I experienced some double vision. The new specs was astig 0.75 each for both eyes and shortsightedness R350 L425. Like to ask if it is common for my age group to experience an increase in astig and decrease in shortsightedness. Is there anything to avoid or do in order to prevent or slow down this phenomenon? Thanks!

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Yes, astigmatism can change over time. If you rub your frequently, then it may also be a cause. Otherwise, you cannot prevent it.

Question by dion008a

Hi Doc, my last checkup, doc said a small hole in my eye and asked me want to do laser. Can the hole self heal up/close or if is it threatening (blindness)? I am shortsighted and in early forties. Do I get perfect eye sight after perform laser treatment to close up the hole? Pl advice. Thanks.

low

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Some retinal tears are dangerous and can eventually lead to retinal detachment. These lasers are meant to seal the holes and breaks to prevent retinal detachment. They do not have any effect on your eyesight.

Question by ktphua

Dear Dr.Wang,

I had a cataract right eye surgery on 6/6 (by phacoemulsification) and reviewed on 7/6 which was normal. However, now 14 days had passed, I have some dark spots and cobwebs floaters that drift aimlessly around my field of vision. (esp.1 cobweb shape floater following me since Day 1). I had asked my 3 friends who had gone for the procedure and they recovered in 5-6 days with clear vision, no floaters. I had instilled eye drops ( tobramycin and pred forte) 3 hourly every day hoping that the floaters will disappears.Please advise. Thank you very much. rdgs, kok too

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Please go back to your doctor for check-up. You have symptoms of vitreous degeneration (degeneration of jelly in the eye). Although innocuous most of the time, there is a small risk of retinal tear and serious retinal detachment.

Question by selvarangame

Dear Wang, I am 45 yrs old and i have short sighted. The doctor advised me that a small screen like white object formed behind my left eye retina but not in imminent danger for vision. also told me come for next check up after 6 months. I am short sighted but not using any glass while computer activities. Kindly advise me doctor.

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Please continue follow-up with your doctor. No intervention is necessary at the moment but do update your doctor with any new symptoms.

Question by chansy24

Dear Dr, what are the symptoms of cataract and glaucoma?

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Cataracts generally cause blurring of vision, even with spectacle correction, that includes a lot of other eye conditions as well.

Glaucoma is usually asymptomatic until it is really advanced and patient realise that he/she cannot see or knocks into furniture because of tunnel vision. Only one small subset of patients- Acute angle closure – a condition that cause sudden rise in eye pressure causes, patient observe halos around lights, blurring of vision, headache, nausea and vomiting followed by optic nerve damage and glaucoma within a few days.

Please refer to SNEC website for more information.

Question by markchan57

What are the risk factors for these common eye diseases, besides age?

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Please refer to the SNEC​ website for the appropriate conditions.

Question by sikmunchan

Is it true that lasik causes glaucoma?

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Lasik does not cause glaucoma.

Question by florapiny

Hi Doctor,

My dad already had cataract operation done ten years ago and was asked to go through a Yag laser . Please advise on the advantages and complications, also side effects that will arise with the procedure. It was however not recommended by his previous eye doctor. please advise.

Thanks and regards,

Ms Felicia Lim

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Yag Capsulotomy improves vision if the capsular bag which houses the artificial lens has become dirty enough to obstruct vision. There is a very small chance that the procedure can cause serious problems like retinal tear and detachment, macular oedema or inflammation.

You have two different opinions here. You should talk to your doctors to find out the rationales behind their thinking and make a decision based on the information.

Basically, your Dad only needs it if his vision is affected and the procedure has a good chance to improve it. You weigh it against the risks of the procedure and decide if it is worthwhile.

Question by joanne_ywc

I am under yearly review for suspect glaucoma and every year I do the vision field test and consultation at SNEC. I am age 58 this year. Will the condition get worst as I age? Do I need to take precautions for other age related eye conditions at the sometime?

Answered by Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Glaucoma suspect is not a disease label. You do not have glaucoma and follow-up is for certain features of the optic nerve or slightly elevated pressure which look suspicious but can be normal variations. Glaucoma suspects do not get worse, many remained normal, a small proportion of patients eventually get confirmed as having glaucoma many years later. Generally if you experience blurring of vision or distortion of vision a visit to the optometrist will exclude a spectacle-related problem. If problem persist after refractive correction, then a visit to the eye doctor is necessary to exclude serious eye conditions.

Question by joanne_ywc

I am a 58 yrs old female suspect of glaucoma. Every year I go back to SNEC for review to check my vision field and optic nerve. How can I protect my eyes so that it will not detoriate further. Thank you.

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Glaucoma suspect describes a person with one or more risk factors that may lead to glaucoma, but this individual does not have definite glaucomatous optic nerve damage or visual field defect. A great overlap can exist between findings in patients with early glaucoma and those who are glaucoma suspect without the disease. So, you are not confirmed to have glaucoma. Long term monitoring is useful to chart changes and confirm the diagnosis of glaucoma. Once confirmed, regular and frequent eyedrops are necessary to protect your eyes from further deterioration. At present, you do not need any eye medication or exercise.

Question by queksp

Dr Wang,

I go to Singapore National Eye Centre to have my eyes check annually. This time the doctor told me that I have early stage of cataract when I am only at the age of 49. How long before I have to go for the cataract operation? Please give me an indication so that I can mentally prepare myself. Is there a way to slow down the development of cataract? My doctor did not advise me when I have to go for an operation. Thanks!

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Cataracts affect vision and vision is used as a general gauage to help decide whether it is time for surgery. Progression of cataract and hence timing of surgery is variable. It all depends on the presenting visual symptoms, visual demands of the patient, safety, as well as general guides such as patient not being able to read 6/12 on the Snellen chart.

At present, there are no useful treatments to slow down the progression of cataracts.

Question by karen phua

I had hair like floater in my eye. What eye exercise can help my floater to stay at the corner? Some day the floater stay on the top corner which is less disturbing.

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

Floaters are shadows of opacities in the jelly of the eyeball called the vitreous. They can be cells, pigments, scar tissue, protein fibers, clots etc. They float about and can vary in size and shape and frequency of appearance, depending on their realtive position to the light coming into the eye. They do not generally affect vision. But a small minority of patients may have torn retina associated with this symptom. So an eye check-up with an eye doctor will be useful to exclude this problem. Eye exercises are generally of no benefit.

Question by lily17

Hi Dr Wang,

I start to feel my eyes straining 10 mins after reading, watching the TV, or viewing the PC or mobile phone screen. When I look away I'm unable to focus at objects at a distance. It stays this way for at least 30 mins. I am 40 years old with myopia (~300), astigmatism and long-sightedness. What is the cause of this problem and what can I do about it?

Answered by Dr Wang Jenn Chyuan, Senior Consultant, General Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre

These symptoms are frequently experienced by patients around the age of 40 years where presbyopia sets in. Like many patients with low myope, many will simply remove glasses to read.

Myopia compensates for presbyopia. You can probably benefit from a visit to your optician who can fine-tune your spectacle power to match your visual needs for various working distances . Finally, many patients also have accompanying dry eyes. If you experience grittiness, redness and poking pain, application of eyedrops during visuallly demanding tasks and can further alleviate the symptoms.

Ref: S13