EDUCATION PROGRAMME ON THE PROBLEM OF MYOPIA AND MEASURES TO ENSURE PROPER PRODUCTION OF EYE SOLUTIONS

Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Acting Minister for Health (a) what programme his Ministry has to educate the public, especially students, on the problems of the increasing number of myopes among the population; and (b) whether his Ministry will take measures to regulate the proper production and packaging of eye solutions made in Singapore to ensure that the finished products are safe for users of contact lenses.

The Acting Minister for Health (Mr Yeo Cheow Tong): Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry's public education programme to tackle the problem of myopia or short-sightedness among school children focusses on:

(i) prevention of short-sightedness through health education;

(ii) early detection by regular check-ups and ensuring that those who are found to be short-sighted are referred to the optician for spectacles; and

(iii) the proper use of spectacles and contact lenses.

The education programme is targetted towards school children, their parents and teachers. Such programmes include: the distribution of educational pamphlets to students; talks over radio and in schools; and exhibitions on eye care in school health fairs where students and their parents are invited to attend, and in community centres and shopping complexes. The education programme aims to teach children on proper reading habits such as sitting up and not lying in bed to read, ensuring that there is adequate lighting, not watching the TV from too near a distance or for too long a period of time, and the importance of proper use of spectacles and contact lenses.

Sir, to ensure that locally produced and packaged contact lens solutions are sterile and safe for use, the Ministry will carry out spot checks and test for sterility of the products.

However, the public should note that sterile contact lens solution can be contaminated through prolonged usage and improper storage. Therefore, it is not advisable to buy solutions in bulk packages unless the usage rate is high.