Speech by Dr Lam Pin Min, Minister of State for Health, at the launch of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Week, 1 Oct 2016

Mr Liak Teng Lit, Group CEO, Alexandra Health System,
Mrs Chew Kwee Tiang, CEO, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital,
Adjunct Associate Professor Yip Chee Chew, Head, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Department,

Members of the AMD Organising Committee 2016,
Members of the public. 

1.        Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to join you today at the launch of the Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Week 2016, organised by Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. 

Challenges for eye care in aging Singapore

2.        Singapore’s population is ageing rapidly. The number of citizens aged 65 years and above is expected to increase from 440, 000 in 2016 to about 900, 000 by 2030. As we age, our vision naturally declines. Four out of the top five causes of blindness here, including reversible blindness, are related to ageing.

3.        Age-related macular degeneration, as the name suggests, is more common with increasing age. In AMD, the central part of the retina, which is the macula, is damaged resulting in visual loss in the center of the field of vision. In Singapore, AMD is the third most common cause of blindness and low vision for people aged over 60 years, after cataract and glaucoma^[1]. A local study indicated that about 5.1% of adults aged 40 years and above have early stage AMD, and 0.5% have late stage AMD^[2]. With our rising life expectancy and rapidly ageing population, AMD is becoming a significant health concern in Singapore. 

4.        There are two types of AMD – dry and wet. “Dry” AMD, which is the more common form with a slower rate of progression, can be partially controlled by making healthy lifestyle changes. A small percentage of “dry” AMD progresses into “wet” AMD, which is less common but a more serious condition. In the case of “wet” AMD, vision can be preserved and even improved if the disease is detected early and treated promptly.  

5.        If we do not intervene early, both types of AMD can significantly diminish our quality of life. Our day-to-day activities that we take for granted can be severely impaired, such as reading, driving and even recognising faces. Furthermore, people with poor vision have a higher risk for falls, and are also more likely to be depressed and face social isolation. We can also lower the risk of developing AMD by increasing our dietary intake of green leafy vegetables and fruits, maintaining a healthy weight, watching our diet, increasing physical activity, and not smoking. 

Greater public awareness of AMD needed 

6.        Despite the health risks posed by AMD, most Singaporeans are unaware of this disease. A local study by the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) published in 2009 reported that only 7.3 per cent of Singapore residents interviewed were aware of AMD in 2006. This was significantly lower than the awareness levels in other developed countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia. A subsequent follow-up study in 2011 to look at the effects of the AMD awareness campaign organised by KTPH has shown that while the awareness levels for AMD in Singapore respondents have increased by about four-fold to 28 per cent, we need to keep working hard at raising even greater awareness. A local study done in 2009 showed that the number of new cases of AMD was estimated to be 4 per 1000 new cases seen at the Singapore National Eye Centre^[3] in 1991 and 1992. 

7.        We also need to reach out to the carers of those affected by or at risk. Family members can play an important role to help prevent and detect AMD early among their loved ones who are at risk. For patients with AMD, a strong family support is also crucial in helping them cope better with the disease and continue to live fulfilling lives. 

Nationwide collaborative effort for AMD 

8.        During the AMD Awareness Week, over 100 locations across Singapore will be offering eye screenings, including the one that is taking place here today. In addition, there will also be a number of public forums organised for the public. 

9.        In closing, I want to thank KTPH and their partners for doing their part to educate the public on AMD. Let us continue working together to improve the eye health of our loved ones and those in our community. Thank you. 

^[1] Source: Singapore Burden of Disease Study 2010, Ministry of Health.

^[2] Cheung CM et al. Prevalence, racial variations, and risk factors of age-related macular degeneration in Singaporean Chinese, Indians, and Malays. Elsevier Inc. 2014. It was a population-based cross-sectional study, which involved 10,033 persons 40 years of age or older residing in Singapore. 

^[3] Source: Cheng et al. (2009) Age-related macular degeneration in Singapore. Singapore Med J 2009;50(2):126-31