The retina, a thin layer of tissue that sits in the back of your eye, is made up of millions of light-sensitive cells that capture images, organise them and sends them off to your brain, and thus enabling you to see clearly. Retinal-related conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusions and more, can affect any part of the retina and hence, your vision. Some can be serious enough to cause blindness. Our specialist is here to answer questions you may have on treatment that could help stop or slow existing conditions, while preserving or improving your vision. ​

Dr Chan Choi Mun, Senior Consultant from the Medical Retina Department at Singapore National Eye Centre, gives detailed answers to your questions. 


Question by s1800053i

I am very blind without my glass and cant see much in the dark. Is my condition serious? My shortsightness degree is RX R700 and RX L 650 CYL - R075 and L -075 IS this condition the same as night blindneds? I am 48 female. Thanks! SY

Answered by Dr Chan Choi Mun, Senior Consultant, Medical Retina Department, Singapore National Eye Centre

Patients with a high degree of myopia, which is classified as more than -6.5D, commonly have difficulty with seeing well at night. It is also very common to be very dependent on spectacles or contact lenses as your vision would be very blur without the help of spectacles. Night blindness, also known as nyctalopia, is an inherited condition where one has difficulty navigating in dim light conditions, and has a restricted visual field- meaning that one's peripheral or outside vision is lost. It is also a progressive condition, meaning that the symptoms in night blindness tend to worsen with time. Your complaints would be in line with someone with high myopia, and as such, it is not likely you have night blindness. However if you are concerned, please have an ophthalmology review you.


Question by catherinetiah

Dear Doctor,

My eyes feel tired sometimes after a very long day. There is pain sometimes, and in one or two times, there are sudden instance of lights. Is there eye pressure building up and affecting the retina. If there is eye pressure building up, what are the symptoms- early stage/ late stage. I take eye care supplements often. Do I need to take supplements with greater eye- healthy ingredients.

Answered by Dr Chan Choi Mun, Senior Consultant, Medical Retina Department, Singapore National Eye Centre

It is very common for our eyes to feel tired after a long day, particularly if we have been doing a lot of reading of computer work. This is due to eyestrain as well as dryness in the eyes. Dry eyes occurs after you have been reading or doing near work for a prolonged period of time as we often forget to blink when we are concentrating during those tasks. Dry eyes can cause discomfort, eye redness, and a sense of pressure in the eyes. It can be resolved by using lubricating eyedrops regularly. See flashing lights in your vision can be due to degeneration of the vitreous jelly in the back of your eyeball. This degeneration is normal as we get older and is not associated with elevated pressure in the eyeball. However, if this is the first time you are seeing flashing lights, I would advise you to have an eye examination. Oral supplements are usually not necessary if you have a balanced diet.


Question by toothpaste4dinnr

Hi, I have had this condition for over 3 years now. I have spent a lot of time, money and energy into getting the correct diagnosis, but all the doctors have been clueless. My problem is, my eyes feel tired and inflamed all the time. I find it difficult to keep it open. I experience extreme photosensitivity, and I always look like I have just woken up from sleep. My eyes look puffy and sleepy all the time. When I wake up in the morning, I also experience a fuzzy, out of focus feeling. Like I am in a shock and not entirely alert, something one experiences when woken up in the middle of the night, and there is no coordination or sense of where they are. It gradually improves as the day goes, but it's always there, and this has been really troubling me for the last 3 years. It is disturbing because it happened all of a sudden one day in the morning, and I have not felt normal, active and alert since then. To find out what's wrong with me, I have had countless number of eye exams, 2 MRI scans of the brain, both of which were normal. The eye exams were perfect, and there is nothing wrong with my eyesight or eyes. I've had every test available for my eyes, applied every eye drop, antibiotics and artificial tears, but none of them work. Could it be a muscle problem around the eyes? or something like blepharospasm? Please help. You may access my medical records, as I have had all of my tests and exams in SGH/Eye center. Many thanks, Mrinal.

Answered by Dr Chan Choi Mun, Senior Consultant, Medical Retina Department, Singapore National Eye Centre

Your symptoms of your eyes feeling tired, having difficulty keeping them open and having blurred vision upon waking would usually fit in with the diagnosis of extremely dry eyes. Dry eyes can be treated with combination of lubricating eyedrops, gel and oral tablets. It is reassuring that you have undergone numerous eye examinations and brain scans, all of which were normal. Without examining you, it is difficult to know exactly what is wrong with you. I would advise you to have an eye examination with a specialist if you are concerned about problems with your eye muscles or eyelids.


Question by grandmafull

Dear Doc,

I did a cataract with IOL in Oct 2013 and since then I have had problem with my vision. I need progressive glasses for my reading and I use them daily as I have been wearing glasses for the 50 years. Somehow I find that my vision is no good and I kept changing glasses. Please advise. Margaret

Answered by Dr Chan Choi Mun, Senior Consultant, Medical Retina Department, Singapore National Eye Centre

Cataract surgery is a very common procedure to remove the cataract, or opacified lens in our eye, so as to improve our vision. An intraocular lens, or IOL, is put in at the end of the surgery. There are various types of Intraocular lenses can be used. A monofocal lens would allow you to see clearly for one fixed distance, usually for distance vision. A multifocal lens would allow you to see clearly for both near and far distances, reducing your reliance on spectacles. I do not know what lens you had. If you had clear vision immediately after the surgery, but found that your vision has started to deteriorate, a common cause is the development of posterior capsule opacification, where an extra layer of cells has formed behind the lens. This can be easily resolved with a laser procedure which is done on an outpatient basis. However, if you never had clear vision after the surgery, it is possible that there might be a problem with the retina, which is the nerve layer at the back of the eye. You should have an eye examinations to rule this out.


Question by huiboon

Dear Doctor,

My left eye seems to play tricks with me. Whenever I view something straight,it turns wavy at some point.Please advice. Thanks.

Answered by Dr Chan Choi Mun, Senior Consultant, Medical Retina Department, Singapore National Eye Centre

Seeing straight lines as wavy is a very common symptom in a condition known as epiretinal membrane. This is when an extra membrane forms at the retina, which is the nerve layer at the back of the eye. If the symptoms are very troublesome, vitrectomy surgery can be performed to remove this extra membrane. Most patients find that if they are not too bothered by the symptoms, they tend to leave it alone. The symptoms tend to remain stable and not worsen with time.


Question by archideas7

Hi Dr,

A few times a year, I'll have sharp pain in eyeball. It felt like eye vessel burst. It is a concern that I should see a eye specialist? Thanks Soo

Answered by Dr Chan Choi Mun, Senior Consultant, Medical Retina Department, Singapore National Eye Centre

Having a sharp pain in the eyeball is a common symptom in dry eyes. Dry eyes can cause discomfort, eye redness, blurring of vision and a pressure sensation in the eyeball. If you find that your symptoms are relieved with the application of some lubricating drops, this would be consistent with a diagnosis of dry eyes. There is no need to see an eye specialist for this.


Question by kathie_lam

Why am I seeing curves instead of straight lines with my left eye? Except for this I'm ok and can read small prints.

Answered by Dr Chan Choi Mun, Senior Consultant, Medical Retina Department, Singapore National Eye Centre

Seeing straight lines as wavy is a very common symptom in a condition known as epiretinal membrane. This is when an extra membrane forms at the retina, which is the nerve layer at the back of the eye. If the symptoms are very troublesome, vitrectomy surgery can be performed to remove this extra membrane. Most patients find that if they are not too bothered by the symptoms, they tend to leave it alone. The symptoms tend to remain stable and not worsen with time.


Question by trekker

I have been getting intermittent and occaisonal stabbing pains in my eyes for the last 3 years. Annual and extra checks by eye specialists so far has always been negative, "nothing wrong with your eyes, sir". The oft-given answer the last 3 years has been "your eyelids are dirty that is why you get these pains"! Been prescribed Lid-Care wipes as well as regular application of Tears Naturale. No use. I need to find the cause, not just treat the symptoms!

Answered by Dr Chan Choi Mun, Senior Consultant, Medical Retina Department, Singapore National Eye Centre

Your symptoms, and the fact that you have been prescribed lid care, are consistent with you having a condition called meibomitis. It occurs when the meibomian glands, which are the oil glands in your eyelids, produce excessive oil. This commonly occurs in a humid climate such as Singapore’s. Oil is an irritant and causes a lot of eye discomfort. In addition, the oil interferes with your tear function, leading to dry eyes. To treat the cause of your eye discomfort, you would need to clean off the oil with the use of lid care twice a day and using lubricant eyedrops regularly. With diligent use of these cleansing agents and eyedrops, you should see an improvement in your symptoms. In extreme cases, it can be helpful to take a short course of oral antibiotics.


Question by don1503

I frequently feel that my right eye has a layer of film. When that happens; my vision seems to be blurry and i will have double vision. I have seen some eye specialist and they said it is because of dry eyes. I am not assured add the double vision can be quite bad. Can you advise? Thanks.

Answered by Dr Chan Choi Mun, Senior Consultant, Medical Retina Department, Singapore National Eye Centre

Your symptoms could be due to dry eyes. There are some tests that can be done to confirm to diagnosis of dry eyes. Usually, if your symptoms improved with the regular use of lubricating eyedrops, this would be consistent with dry eyes. Double vision could mean you need to wear spectacles. Sometimes, it can be due to a problem with the muscles around the eyeball. To exclude this, it is best to have an eye examination with a specialist.


Question by llytoh34

Dear Doc Chan,

  1. Is there such a thing as the maximum number of times where the retina tears before the lost of sight?
  2. What is the window period to seek emergency treatment for retina tear before the lost of sight?
  3. What can one do if medical treament is 'out of reach' as when travelling overseas in a remote place?
  4. How can we take care of our eyes to prevent this condition? Will taking eye care supplements help?

Thanks

Answered byDr Chan Choi Mun, Senior Consultant, Medical Retina Department, Singapore National Eye Centre

Retinal tears or holes can be sight threatening if they develop into a retinal detachment. The symptoms of a retinal tear are :

  1. the sudden onset of seeing floaters or flashing lights
  2. a sudden and dramatic increase in the number of floaters one usually sees.

When such symptoms occur, it is best to have your eyes checked as soon as possible. If your eye specialist detects a retinal tear, this can be lasered to prevent the development of retinal detachment. Supplements Will not prevent A retinal tear. If you have a high degree of myopia, it may be advisable to avoid contact sports or situations with a risk of sustaining blunt trauma to the eye, as this may predispose you to developing a retinal tear.


Question by yuzu

Dear doc, I am 31-year-old, female. I suffers from eye floaters since I was 29-year-old. I am short-sighted, about 300 degree in both eyes. I have done an eye check-up and was told that it is due to ageing. Is it uncommon for people of my age to get eye floaters? How can I prevent more floaters from occurring? Will floaters increase my risk of getting retina related problem in future? My job requires me to work in front of computer for long hours. What can I do to protect my eyes? How frequent should I go for my eye check-up? Thanks.

Answered by Dr Chan Choi Mun, Senior Consultant, Medical Retina Department, ​Singapore National Eye Centre

  1. Q: Is it uncommon for people of my age to get eye floaters?
  2. A: No. The average age of onset is from 30 years onwards but floaters have been known to occur even in teenagers.

  3. Q: How can I prevent more floaters from occurring?
  4. A: You can’t.

  5. Q: Will floaters increase my risk of getting retina related problem in future?
  6. A: Floaters indicate that the vitreous humour, which is the jelly occupying the back of the eyeball, has started to degenerate, as part of the normal process that occurs in all eyes with time. During this degeneration, the vitreous jelly may pull on the retina, possibly leading to retinal holes which could lead to retinal detachment. Therefore floaters do not increase your risk of getting a retinal problem, but are merely an indication that the vitreous jelly has started to degenerate.

  7. Q: My job requires me to work in front of computer for long hours. What can I do to protect my eyes?
  8. A: Computer work does not cause floaters.

  9. Q: How frequent should I go for my eye check-up?
  10. A: If you have had a thorough eye examination when the floaters first presented and been found to be normal, it is advisable to have a second eye examination about 6 to 8 weeks after that. If the second check is again normal, it is not necessary to have another eye check up. I would then advise you on the signs and symptoms of retinal detachment, which includes seeing a dramatic increase in the number of floaters, seeing flashing lights in the eye or noticing any blockage of your visual fields. If you experience any of these symptoms, please seek medical attention immediately. At night, or over the weekend, you can walk into the Accident and Emergency department and there will be a doctor on call to review you to exclude retinal detachment.


Ref: O17