5 Signs You Need New Contacts

If you’ve been wearing contact lenses for several years, then you’ve probably been guilty of wearing them way past their expiration. In fact, some of you may not even be aware that your prescription lenses have an expiry date! You’re not alone. With prescription uses ranging from daily to yearly, it’s hard to keep track when you should get a fresh pair of lenses. Yet replacing your old contacts is one of the best things you can do to keep your eyes healthy.

Here are some telltale signs you need to replace your contact lens:

1. Your lenses appear cloudy even after rinsing them in saline solution. This is an indication that bacteria have built up in your lenses and should you continue to use them, you’re putting yourself at risk for eye infections. Moving forward, washing your hands before handling contact lenses, cleaning the lens case, and using fresh saline solution can prevent bacteria from spreading quickly.
2. Your lenses feel uncomfortable or are irritating your eyes. This may be a sign that your lenses are already damaged. Before putting them on, make sure to check for scratches and tears. If there are none, you may want to give your contact lenses a thorough saline rinse to clear them from all dirt and debris. If you do find scratches, then it’s time to say goodbye!
3. Your lenses are misshapen. If you notice any permanent dents and bends on your contact lenses, it’s a sign that you need to get a new pair to avoid eye injury and infections.
4. You experience frequent headaches, eye fatigue and blurry vision. Such symptoms indicate that you need to visit your doctor and get a new prescription.
5. Your current lenses don’t have UV protection. Newer models of lenses are designed to be more breathable and durable against sum damage. Plus, they can protect you from cataracts and macular degeneration.

When in doubt, you can always ask your ophthalmologist for help in keeping you up-to-date on your contact lens prescription. 

Dr Steve Seah is your go-to ophthalmologist for the management of all eye issues, including cataracts and glaucoma. He is always available for consultations and eye screening exams. For appointments, call 6565-6888.

Do I Need Glasses? Watch Out for These 10 Signs – Dr Steve Seah

Having trouble reading road signs at night? Has your vision suddenly gotten blurry? It may be time to get glasses.

Nowadays, having poor eyesight is not at all uncommon. It can be caused by many things, from age and genetics to bad habits and eye illnesses. Fortunately, most cases of refractive errors can be corrected with a simple eyeglass prescription. Here are 10 signs you need to visit your ophthalmologist and get a pair of glasses:

1. You find yourself constantly squinting to get a clearer image of an out-of-focus object.  
2. You experience eye fatigue, strain or pain even after getting enough rest or sleep, or even if you’re not diagnosed with an eye infection or other health issues.
3. You get frequent headaches caused by constantly straining the eyes to see better.
4. You have blurry or distorted vision, which are signs of nearsightedness or farsightedness.
5. You are seeing double, which may be indicative of astigmatism or cataracts.
6. You’re having trouble seeing at night, specifically while reading or driving.
7. You often see halos or auras around lights, especially at night.
8. Your eyes find it difficult to adjust to sudden light changes.
9. You have trouble watching TV, using the computer or reading for a prolonged period.
10. You feel pressure behind your eyes, which might indicate glaucoma.

While some of these signs do not 100% mean you have poor vision, they do tell you that you are due for a trip to your ophthalmologist. Your doctor can help determine if you have poor vision or an underlying eye disease, as well as prescribe the best course of action.

If you want to have your eyes checked and check out the possible treatments for poor vision, call senior consultant ophthalmologist Steve Seah at 6565-6888 today.

Am I a Candidate for LASIK Surgery?

A simple prescription for eyeglasses or contacts is already enough to correct vision problems such as myopia, presbyopia and astigmatism for most people. Corrective eyewear, however, are only temporary and constantly need upgrading every few months or year. For some people with very high prescriptions, or those who want a more permanent solution to blurry eyesight, LASIK treatments are recommended.

However, LASIK is not for everybody. Here’s a short checklist to help you determine whether you are a suitable candidate for the procedure or not:

Age: Most ophthalmologists require their patient to be 18 years old and above to be an eligible candidate for LASIK. At this time, your eyes would have fully matured and have a more stable prescription.

Overall health: You should be in generally good health, meaning that you are not diagnosed with any conditions that may be worsened by LASIK surgery, or impede healing after LASIK. Such disorders include diabetes, and vascular and autoimmune illnesses.

Eye health: Similarly, you should not have chronic eye problems that can affect the results of LASIK surgery, as well as influence healing time and full recovery. Alternative options for LASIK are usually recommended for those with severe dry eyes, glaucoma, keratoconus, strabismus and lazy eye.

Stable vision: It is recommended that you first have a stable eye prescription for one whole year before undergoing LASIK treatments.

Corneal thickness: Likewise, you should have a corneal thickness of not less than 0.5mm to qualify as a candidate for LASIK surgery.

If you meet all the requirements above, then you have a higher chance of getting a go-signal to have LASIK treatments. To be 100% sure, however, you’re still recommended to visit the right ophthalmologist for further testing to determine not only your eligibility, but also how to ensure the procedure’s success.

Dr. Steve Seah is a sought-after senior consultant ophthalmologist in Singapore specializing in LASIK treatments and other laser-assisted procedures to manage eye disorders such as cataracts and glaucoma. Schedule an appointment with him today at 6565-6888.

5 Daily Habits That Are Hurting Your Eyes by Steve Seah - Your Singapore Eye Specialist

Your eyes are your windows to the world, but how often do you take care of them?

Good eye health starts with a choice, and whether you know it or not, you actually make a choice every second, every day. Here are five ways you may not realize you’re hurting your eyes and what you can do about them:

#1. Getting too much screen time. Staring at your smartphone and computer screens for a long time leads to eye strain, and dry and tired eyes, which in turn leads to blurred vision, headaches and dizziness. Since we are at an age where exposure to digital technology is unavoidable, the best workaround to limit your screen time is with the 20/20/20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at something from 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This simple step will give your eyes a much-needed break and reduce eye strain. Enlarging the text on your screens and avoiding using your gadgets at night will also prevent fatigue and sleep disorders.

#2. Rubbing your eyes. As tempting as it may be, rubbing your eyes when they get dry or itchy is a big no-no. It may actually do more harm than good. Excessive rubbing can break the blood vessels in the eyelids, and spread germs and bacteria into the eyes if your hands are dirty. Using tear drops or an ice compress is the better alternative to washing away debris from your eyes, calm an itch or bring instant relief.

#3. Wearing your contact lens for too long. This includes wearing them in the shower or while sleeping, or wearing overused contact lenses with an expired prescription. While convenient, doing these increases the risk of bacteria entering your eye and causing infections, even blindness. The simple solution is to follow your doctor’s instructions on how to care for your contacts, from the use of solution to the replacement schedule. Trading in your contact lens for prescription glasses at certain points of the day will also let your eyes rest and breath.

#4. Not wearing sunglasses. Sunglasses are not only for fashion, they help protect your eyes from exposure to the sun’s UV rays, which puts you at risk for conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration. As much as possible, when you go out, put on a pair of sunglasses, or UV-protected eyeglasses or contact lenses. Pairing your shades with caps and visors is also a plus.

#5. Not visiting your eye doctor. Having your eyes checked regularly by your ophthalmologist, especially if you feel that something is wrong, is the best way to ensure eye health and detect vision-impairing conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration at their earliest.  

Dr. Steve Seah is a sought-after Singapore eye specialist with an extensive clinical experience in the management of various eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataract and refractive errors. Schedule an appointment for eye screening at 6565-6888