BEST PROVIDERS OF SPECIALIST CARE
PAEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC
SUNWAY EYE CENTRE
With eighteen highly skilled and experienced eye specialists offering up to eight ophthalmology sub-specialties , Sunway Eye Centre is recognised as one of the most comprehensive eye centres in the region , with its brand name located in three of Sunway Healthcare ’ s facilities .
On its roster are four consultants sub-specialising in paediatric ophthalmology who treat and manage complicated conditions in children , including congenital cataract , strabismus , retinoblastoma , retinopathy of prematurity , congenital glaucoma , among others . The centre also offers advanced treatment for newborns , such as laser therapy or cryotherapy for retinopathy of prematurity , a disease that affects premature babies with an abnormal growth of blood vessels in the retina and can lead to vision loss . Since good vision plays an important role in childhood learning , it ’ s crucial that a paediatric ophthalmologist examines babies at risk of developing it .
“ Our differentiator is our hospitalbased setup and technology . We have the support of tertiary care multidisciplinary medical specialities under one roof . With this , we ’ re able to provide patients with a wholesome service experience and top notch care ,” said Woon Ming Ming , Chief Executive Officer of Sunway Eye Centre , in an interview with Global Health Asia-Pacific .
“ Everything is sorted out within the Sunway Healthcare Group — we don ’ t have to refer any patients out . Sunway Eye Centre is also an established centre for referrals on vision therapy and rehabilitation services and prosthetic
Dr Malisa , Dr Sree , Woon Ming Ming and Dr Chin , Dr Fiona
eye fabrication and fitting for children ,” she continued . “ With our 24- hour Careline , we ’ re just a phone call away to provide round-the-clock assistance to our patients .” The centre also won the Eye Clinic of the Year Award at the recent International Medical Travel Journal ( IMTJ ) awards .
The centre has been investing heavily in paediatric eye care equipment . One of these is the micropulse laser therapy , which is a minimally invasive treatment for children with congenital and juvenile glaucoma . Sunway Eye Centre is also one of the few facilities in the country that offers neuroophthalmology , a field that looks at neurodevelopmental outcomes in children that are associated with developmental disorders . The centre also specialises in unique and highly focused cases such as cross linking to strengthen the cornea and cornea transplants for young adults .
“ We ’ ve noticed an increase in awareness of ophthalmic care for children in recent years . Especially this year , due to the pandemic situation , schoolchildren have been attending online classes and stay home most of the time . Because of this , parents have had more time to care for their children ’ s eyesight ,” said Dr Sree Kumar Palani , Sunway Eye Centre ’ s Head of Ophthalmology , Consultant Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon .
“ This is good because low awareness can result in neglecting the most common vision problems that start in childhood , such as lazy eye , squinting , ptosis ( drooping eye lid ), and a high degree of astigmatism . These conditions can lead to irreversible damages , such as reduced vision in the future , and it certainly can affect their learning ability and confidence ,” added Dr Sree .
One example is amblyopia , also known as lazy eye , a condition that causes children to experience poor vision in one eye . Over time , the brain relies more on the stronger eye , while the vision from the weaker one gets worse . However , prompt treatment can often fix the problem with prescription glasses or a simple patch to cover the strong eye so that the weak one becomes more active , as well as other therapies . Parents should know that kids who grow up without treatment can have lifelong vision problems .
82 DECEMBER 2020 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com