Initially, I trained in Neurosurgery. My experiences of the eye clinics we shared with Ophthalmologists made me more interested in the Eye, perhaps also due to the precision associated with eye checks, eye measurements and especially eye surgeries whose success rates are very predictable and very high. So I changed to do Ophthalmology instead.

When they begin to notice changes in their vision such as blurred vision or discomfort in their eyes. Essentially any changes that are not normal. Patients over the age of 50 years should also screen regularly for Glaucoma, Cataracts, Macular Degeneration and Dry eyes.

I join the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) in their annual meetings and read their monthly journal of scientific, peer-reviewed publications. I would also regularly participate in the Asia-Pacific Association of Cataract and refractive Surgeons (APACRS) User’s meetings and lectures.

My principle is to see to patients’ individual needs with patience and informative communication, and to always deliver excellent surgery results.

1. LASIK surgery can treat cataracts.
LASIK is only suitable for patients without cataracts. Cataract development starts around 50 years of age, causing progressive changes of the natural lens colour and thus change to the eye’s power. Thus LASIK surgery given to a patient who already has early cataract formation is not going to provide spectacle freedom for long.

2. I should wait until my cataracts are very ripe before I undergo cataract surgery.
The older the cataract, the larger and denser it becomes. Surgery time will not only increase, causing higher chance of corneal decompensation and requring a larger wound size, there is also increased chance of intra-operative complication such as capsular support rupture, ligament support rupture or macular oedema . raised eye pressure. Don’t wait until it is too late and your prognosis is poor.

From the most conservative management eg regularly change prescription glasses to the ultimate surgery of choice, all pros and cons must be clearly laid out and explained to the patients. My approach is patient and delivery has to be clearly structured for easy and best understanding. Additionally, we provide to patients information leaflets and in-house educational videos.

I try and exercise by walking the dog in the mornings and playing tennis regularly at night, thus always getting 6-8 hours of deep sleep. It gives me good daytime concentration this way.

Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) lens implant for presbyopia correction at the time of cataract surgery, Wavefront-guided iLASIK to improve night vision, Smooth Incision Lenticule Keratomileusis for flapless laser vision correction of myopia and astigmatism, Stem cell therapy for age-related macular degeneration.

After the age of 50, do regular eye screening for cataracts, glaucoma, macular disease and dry eyes. If there is a positive family history of any of these conditions, you should do so starting from the age of 40-45 years old. People with strong family history may also receive advice on what supplements to take and eye drops to use to prevent the onset, or to slow down the process of aging eye diseases.

As from a young age, people should think about wearing UV protective sunglasses as well as to ensure a diet with plenty of antioxidants ( eg fruits and vegetables ) in order to better prevent against aging eye diseases once they hit middle age. They should also refrain from smoking or vaping and not have a diet that has too much red meat and lacking in anti-oxidants.