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Shift the focus to tackle myopia in Singapore
It may be irreversible, but the battle with short-sightedness needs to be contained, if not won.
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Myopia is a public health crisis with long-term economic and social implications.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Goh Jit Khong Jake and Foo Li Lian
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Ten-year-old Ethan suddenly developed myopia, and it quickly got worse. But where once children like Ethan had to rely on increasingly stronger lenses, his vision was stabilised with the use of myopia-control spectacle lenses. Sarah, a 12-year-old dancer, switched to Ortho-K (orthokeratology) lenses, gaining freedom from glasses and excelling in performances.
These cases highlight the importance of early intervention and regular follow-ups in myopia – and in the wider picture, how a whole-of-society approach is needed. While myopia, or short-sightedness, is irreversible, its trajectory can be managed.
