Celebrating the First Anniversary of Myopia Centre

Guest-of-honour Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs joined Prof Wong Tien Yin, Medical Director, SNEC, Ms Charity Wai, Chief Operating Officer, SNEC, Assoc Prof Audrey Chia and Assoc Prof Marcus Ang for a group photo.

SNEC’s Myopia Centre in Bedok turned one on 15 September 2020. The occasion was graced by Guest-of-Honour Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

At the virtual event, Dr Balakrishnan hosted and narrated a virtual book reading of the newly launched edition of Amanda the Panda: Goes to the City  to pupils from seven PCF Sparkletots preschools across Singapore. The book is the second in the centre’s Amanda the Panda  series, which follows the adventures of a young panda learning about eye care practices.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan hosted and narrated a virtual book reading which was live streamed to several preschoolers across Singapore.

Addressing the media afterwards, Dr Balakrishnan reflected on his experience as a young doctor studying myopia, and expressed fears about it as a serious issue among children. To prevent myopia, he emphasised the importance of cultivating healthy habits in childhood as well as the role of education.

The Myopia Centre is also finding new ways to cater to its patients. It aims to launch tele-consultations as part of its regular operations from January 2021.

Amanda the Panda: Goes to the City

Amanda the Panda: Goes to the City is the second children’s book on myopia prevention published by Wildtype Books. Authors Assoc Prof Marcus Ang and Prof Saw Seang Mei wrote it to educate parents on how they can nurture healthy eye habits in their children so as to address the high prevalence of childhood myopia in Singapore. The story follows Amanda the Panda as she learns to balance schoolwork and play. From her, readers will understand that even simple habits — such as spending more time outdoors and taking a break from studying and near work — can help prevent myopia. The book is available for orders at Wildtype Media.

About Myopia Centre

In August 2019, SNEC’s Myopia Centre was launched to bolster the nation’s fight against shortsightedness. This one-stop hub facility allows specialised management of myopia in the three areas of prevention, management and education:

• Myopia prevention: involves making simple lifestyle modifications that delay the onset of myopia in young children, such as going outdoors.

• Myopia management: refers to early detection and intervention for better outcomes.Myopia progression in high-risk children are controlled and monitored from 6 years of age to prevent further complications in adulthood.

• Myopia education: enhancing public awareness through our myopia prevention and control education campaigns, patient counselling, and digital solutions.

Find out more about Myopia Centre here.