In the news....................................................................................................................
01 Sept 2008: Latest 3rd generation Silicone Hydrogel Material is now available in Singapore
Nature’s Essential Elements Together Like Never Before. A Level Of Comfort You Never Thought Possible.
New Biofinity® contact lenses are made from a unique, naturally water-loving material that helps them stay moist and comfortable all day long. Biofinity’s revolutionary lens material is also highly breathable, allowing greater levels of oxygen to freely flow through the lens—helping to keep your eyes clear, white, and healthy looking. The secret is CooperVision’s patented Aquaform™ technology, which optimizes the relationship between oxygen and water, creating a softer, more flexible lens material. It all adds up to a naturally comfortable lens with no additives, coatings, wetting agents, or surface treatments. Nothing comes between you and a more comfortable lens-wearing experience.
01 Sept 2008: New Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism
8 out of 10 users feel like they're wearing no lenses at all*.
Now available for Astigmatism > ACUVUE® OASYS™ are the next generation in silicone hydrogels, containing our proprietary HYDRACLEAR™ Plus technology that allows us to use a higher volume of moisture-rich wetting agent in a state of the art formulation. This creates a more wettable, ultra smooth contact lens especially for challenging environments such as dry, air-conditioned offices and after long hours at the PC.
Experience supreme comfort when you use ACUVUE® OASYS™ with HYDRACLEAR™ Plus , the lenses that make you feel like you’re wearing none at all*!
*Data on file, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care 2006. ** Patel S, Henderson R, Bradley L et.al. Effect of visual display unit use on blink rate and tear stability. Optom Vis Sci, 1991; 68:11 888-92
10 June 2008: IGARD Centre at Orchard now has a refreshing new look. As a leading vision specialist in Singapoire, the centre focuses on primary eye care and provide expertise in ophthalmic prescribing and dispensing. It stocks up a large number of designer eyewear for you to choose and maintains a large inventory of contact lenses for your convenience. It also has a small children's corner and waiting area on the ground floor of International Building. Please note that appointment will be required especially during peak periods. TAX FREE NO GST 7% AT IGARD (ORCHARD)
4 May 2008 : IGARD (Singapore) is now on Facebook. Join our group on Facebook today!
24 - 28 March 2008: Children Eye Care Week for Schools in Singapore islandwide. School children can now signup for School Myopia Plan. For more information, please email tina@igard.com.sg
School Myopia Plan - Application Forms available directly from your school teacher
Parents / Teachers - Workshops on Myopia Coming Soon!
Participating schools - Kids get an ergonomical computer mousepad when they signup!
12 Feb 2008: Our Centre at Orchard is now relocated to the ground floor of International Building. All our services is now under one roof including Optical Services and Children Eye Care Services. Appointments with the IGARD Group of Primary Eye Care and Vision Specialists are currently available at Orchard, Choa Chu Kang, Kent Ridge (NUS) and Jurong (NTU). Our Local Business Headquarters is currently occupying the 11th floor unit at International Building. Book Your Appointment Here!
IGARD services are available at the medical centres within NUS and NTU.
Optometry services are offered at special rates to university staff and students at NUS/NTU/SMU. Full optometry services are available every Monday & Wednesday afternoons in the Medical Centre at NTU and every Tuesday & Thursday afternoons at the University Health & Wellness Centre in NUS. SMU staff/students are welcomed to fix their appointments at our centre in Orchard.
A wide range of spectacle frames is available for you to choose at the clinic. Senior Consultant Optometrist Yap Tiong Peng is currently the designated visiting optometrist at both NUS and NTU. He is registered with the Singapore Health Ministry in 1998 and he received his optometry training and postgraduate education at the University of Manchester and Imperial College in London. By appointment only.
If you need contact lenses, they must be prescribed and dispensed by an optometrist after an eye examination. Book an appointment for a Standard Eye Examination via our website for a comprehensive assessment of your eyes and find out how these new products can help your improve your visual sense and eye health!
NEW PROCLEAR 1 DAY - Now, there are contacts that can provide all the convenience you like plus an unsurpassed level of comfort that lasts all-day long. This exceptional level of comfort is made possible by PC Technology™, which creates a unique material containing molecules of phosphorylcholine (PC), a substance found naturally in human cell membranes. These molecules attract and surround themselves with water, keeping Proclear lenses moist and comfortable, even after 12 hours of wear. Recommended by IGARD. Trademark of CooperVision.
NEW 1 DAY ACUVUE FOR ASTIGMATISM - Enjoy the comfort and convenience of the Acuvue 1 Day disposable contact lenses - now it corrects vision better for people with astigmatism. Recommended by IGARD. Trademark of Johnson & Johnson.
NEW PURE VISION TORIC - People with astigmatism can now see their world with the same breathtaking clarity. Recommended by IGARD. Trademark of Bausch & Lomb.
Comfort-enhancing AerGel™ material repels debris and stays moist all day
Allows natural levels of oxygen for healthy, white eyes
Children Vision at IGARD Paediatric Optometry - Solo Bambini and Como frames for infant and children are available at IGARD in Singapore. Made in Italy and the USA with FDA approved materials, these frames can accommodate babies and young children from birth to 5 years of age. These frames has no screws or metal parts and fits perfectly and comfortably and will not lose its shape. Secured on the head with a soft woven elastic strap, these frames can als accommodate any prescription lenses and can be outfitted with polycarbonate lenses with UV400 for use as non-prescription sunglasses to protect the baby's delicate eyes from the harmful rays of the sun when exposed outdoors in a stroller, strapped in a car seat or a day at the beach! Find out more about Children Eyewear
Kids who wear glasses are seen by classmates as ‘cool’ - A recent research commissioned by The College of Optometrists in the UK found that although 64% of adults felt that children were teased or bullied for wearing spectacles when they were at school, only 5% of children under-16 say that they are ‘bullied’ for the same reason, and only 7% are ‘teased’ or told they look ‘geeky’. Over a third of kids (34%) under-16 say their friends never mention their vision correction at all, while 43% say their friends are actively positive about them: saying that they make them look ‘clever’ (17%), ‘trendy’ (11%), ‘attractive’ (10%) and ‘kind’ (5%) in contrast to over half of adults who thought that kids wearing spectacles would receive negative comments from their peers. One-in-seven children say that they wear their glasses because it makes them ‘look cool’, while one in ten don them to ‘look clever’. For younger children in the 7-8 age group, 13% will put them on to ‘look like their friends’, while the older children are more practical and just want to ‘see better’ (86 % of 15-16 year olds). However, a changing attitude amongst the young, enhanced by cultural icons such as Harry Potter and Johnny Depp, has led to children no longer seeing glasses as a reason to tease each other. The research for was carried out online among 1,000 7-16 year olds by Dubit, the youth market research specialist. The adult research was produced by YouGov Plc, from a total sample size was 1,972 adults. The fieldwork was undertaken during October 5-8 2007. This article was extracted from Optometry Today - a reputable journal based in the UK. Book Your Appointment Here!
VALUE YOUR HEALTH! ValueHealth has finally been launched at Choa Chu Kang MRT in August 2007. It was first conceptualised in late 2006 following overseas trends where general physicians and optometrists closely work together to offer affordable quality primarycare to serve an increasingly ageing population. This is believed to be the first of its kind in Singapore. IGARD Optometrist Yap Tiong Peng is presently rendering his service at ValueHealth on an appointment basis. He relinquished his research fellow position in ophthalmology and visual sciences at Alexandra Hospital in July 2007 where he worked as the principal investigator of eye diseases and its impact on quality-of-life since its inception in 2004.
Harry Potter's magic made children spectacles cool to wear... Harry Potter's magic has made spectacles 'cooler' to wear. OptometryToday in the U.K. reported that 85% of children aged seven to ten year-olds believed that Harry Potter has "made glasses cooler"and boys find him more inspirational than girls. J.K. Rowling's bespectacled boy wizard has become the leading style guru for children and they can now wear their glasses with pride! Find out more about Children Eye-Care at IGARD July 6th, 2007
JUNE 2007 - IGARD (SINGAPORE)
Better Eye Care for All! The Singapore Health Minister delivered the opening speech at the 6th National Congress of Optometry and Opticianry in June 2007. Contributing to the annual congress was IGARD optometrist Yap Tiong Peng who delivered a series of lectures and workshops in advanced retinal imaging and optometric practice management. Congress highlights include a discussion on the much anticipated optometry and opticianry bill that will be read in parliament next month. Read full speech by Singapore Health Minister.
University staff, alumnus and students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) will benefit from new optometry clinics that are newly sited within the university's medical centres starting in August 2007. This is arranged in response to demands from several student groups. Although there are no immediate plans to setup within the Singapore Management University (SMU), staff/alumnus/students at SMU will be able to benefit directly from the main IGARD Centre at Orchard. All university staff, alumnus and students are entitled to eye-care benefits including special prices for spectacles and contact lenses. LASIK is also offered for vision correction. Prices are available directly from the university's optometry clinics (managed by IGARD) and from the main IGARD Centre at Orchard Road. (Please present staff/alumnus/student identification before purchase and please quote your university before booking an appointment). Adapted article reported by Adam Tan.
Better Eye Care for All! The Singapore Health Minister delivered the opening speech at the 6th National Congress of Optometry and Opticianry in June 2007. Contributing to the annual congress was IGARD optometrist Yap Tiong Peng who delivered a series of lectures and workshops in advanced retinal imaging, contact lenses and optometric practice management. Congress highlights include a discussion on the much anticipated optometry and opticianry bill that will be read in parliament next month. Read full speech by Singapore Health Minister
Learn about eyes! IGARD regularly organise events and talks to educate the public on eye-care. IGARD senior consultant optometrist Yap Tiong Peng is a frequent contributors to these events. More Information
IGARD optometrist Yap Tiong Peng delivered the inaugural talk of the monthly Health & Wellness series organised by the Imperial College Alumni Assocation of Singapore. Yap Tiong Peng is an alumnus of Imperial College in London. At Imperial, he pursued a Master degree in Engineering and Physical Science in Medicine where he completed a project and dissertation on visualising the connectivity and functionality of the biological visual system (i.e. the eye's neuronal retina). He was trained in optometry at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology and the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital in the UK. Click to view
On the kind invitation of the Nanyang Technological University, IGARD Optometrist Yap Tiong Peng delivered a talk on September 13, 2007 (Thurs) 12.30pm Lecture Theatre 7 (Level 2). His topic was on Improving eyesight and guarding against reading difficulties. Yap Tiong Peng also co-organised a talk for the University of Manchester and the British Council with guest speaker Professor Geoff Beattie who is an expert on picking up visual cues of your body language. This event was hosted by Asia HealthPartners on 20 August 2007 (Monday) 7pm at Lucky Plaza Level 5 (Medical Floor).
Primary Eye Care in Singapore: The Singapore Health Ministry announced that the local optical industry will be regulated in 2007. The move from the ministry is welcomed by many optometrists, including IGARD and its dedicated group of optometrists in Singapore. Latest independent research from a world leading Health Policy Expert suggest that the government should increase sight test subsidies and widen scope of primary eye-care (optometry) services in the United Kingdom. Find out more
Eye-Care Product Recall: AMO have issued advice to Singapore consumers in May 2007 to discontinue the use of all AMO Complete MoisturePLUS contact lens solution. The product is recalled as a precautionary measure because of concerns over eye infections from Acanthamoeba, a naturally occurring water-borne organism which can contribute to serious corneal infections. This is in line with similar action in the United States based on information that the company received from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) following interviews with patients who had developed Acanthamoeba corneal infections since January 2005. More information (External Link). On a separate issue only six months ago (November 22, 2006), AMO took voluntary precautionary measures in view of a known sterility corncern on specific product lots of their product. If you have previously purchased any of these affected products, please return them at the soonest possible.
Toxoplasmosis in the Eye: New research published in the EMBO journal revealed that scientists from Imperial College in London have provided new insights into how the toxoplasmosis parasite invades human. In this new section on the IGARD website, we highlight an article adapted from the Visual Impairment Scotland, Scottish Sensory Centre at The University of Edinburgh, which highlights how toxoplasmosis can affect the eye. More information
LASIK surgery safe in Singapore: Singapore has one of the highest success and safety rates for LASIK surgery, according to a Health Ministry survey. Four medical centres that handled more than 10,300 cases in 2005, recorded success and safety rates ranging from 98 to 100 percent, better than some international centres. Success rate is measured by whether patients achieve 6/12 vision or better after the procedure, while safety rate refers to the absence of complications such as infections after surgery. LASIK surgery, which aims to correct short sightedness, has been carried out here for 18 years.
Safety at the workplace: Recent research from the National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore reported that most eye injuries are work related. The lack of awareness and compliance to safety had also been strongly attributed to the large number of ocular trauma cases seen at the hospital. Similar findings were also previously reported from researchers at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). Both reports highlighted that the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is very important. Prescription safety glasses is most recommended by IGARD to fit into the most exact occupational requirement of an individual. Under a recent collaboration with INFIELD (UK), IGARD in Singapore will be prescribing, dispensing and supplying a range of approved safety glasses that are fitted to a personal prescription by a dedicated group of optometrists. Find out more
Age-related Macular Degeneration: Have you ever wondered why Popeye only has eyes for Spinach? Latest research from The University of Manchester on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and news on AMD Awareness Week in Singapore. Find out more
Singapore Service Hotline: Call: 6732 3233 (Eye Appointment) Call: 6733 2123 (Optical Orders) Please contact IGARD Pte Ltd - 360 Orchard Road #01-11 International Building, Singapore 238869 A member of IGARD Worldwide
IGARD (Singapore) - Orchard (IB) - Jurong (NTU) - Choa Chu Kang (VH) - Kent Ridge (NUS)
IGARD Centre @ Orchard (International Building) Location Map Mon - Sat: 10.30am - 7.00pm (Lunch Hour 12.30pm - 2.00pm) (Closed on Sundays & Selected Public Holidays) Tel. 67323233 / 67332123 Book Your Appointment Here!
IGARD Services also available at:
Choa Chu Kang - ValueHealth Family Clinic (Eye/Vision) - CCK MRT #01-01/02. Tel. 67666166
Kent Ridge - UHWC (Optometry Clinic) YIH Level 4 - National University of Singapore.
Jurong West - NTU Medical Centre (Optometry Clinic) - Nanyang Technological University.
IGARD Group - Information correct on day of release from IGARD & Associated Practices. All rights reserved IGARD Pte Ltd - Singapore Co. Reg. 200402323G. Optometrists are fully registered with the Singapore Health Ministry. IGARD is committed towards an updated error-free website with fully accurate information. However, if you do find any errors or incorrect information, please email to webmaster@IGARD.com.sg
