After less than 3 months in the new school year, J and C have finally succumbed to the leading eye disease in Singapore. They came back from school one day and announced that they had their vision checked and were advised to visit the optometrist. A visit to the optometrist confirmed that they each require a pair of glasses. Myopia, according to the Singapore National Eye Centre, is a rapidly worsening public health problem in Singapore (maybe it's infectious ... arrgh!) It affects 25% of 7 year olds, 33% of 9 year olds, 50% of 12 year olds and more than 80% of 18 year old males in Singapore.
When I was about J and C's age, only two of my classmates require glasses (check out my class photo, circa 1977). According to a NewScientist article, the main cause of myopia is the lifestyle. Children now spend much of their time focusing on close objects, such as books and computers. We really gotta get our kids out of the house. Play some sports or run in the park.
If they need new pair of glasses every year (S$200 a pair x 2 pairs x 10 years = S$4000), I suppose I have to start saving for lasik ...
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