KPJ Healthcare Berhad

Public urged to take care of eyes

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians have been told to not take their eyes for granted but to care
for them by going for regular eye tests.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun
said many take their eyes for granted and shared how in an accident in 2007 has left her
vision impaired due to nerve damage.

Chew, who is also a Senator in Dewan Negara, said she had spent thousands of ringgit
trying to find appropriate eye glasses for her eye condition but till today, she has yet to find
suitable multifocal
glasses.

"This means I have to change into different glasses during certain situations such as
meetings. This makes me feel old, and that is an unpleasant feeling," she said, adding that
people must learn to care for their eyes as losing sight can be devastating.

Chew said this when launching the World Sight Day 2015 at the KPJ Eye Tawakkal Health
Centre.

Meanwhile, KPJ Healthcare Berhad president Datuk Amiruddin Abdul Satar said in
conjunction with World Sight Day, 25 KPH hospitals will offer 40% discount for all basic
cataract surgeries, starting today till Nov 19, as part of its corporate social responsibility to
encourage those with cataract problems to undergo the surgery at an affordable rate.

KPJ Healthcare, together with CIMB Foundation, through the Lions Club of Kuala Lumpur
Bukit Kiara, will sponsor free cataract surgeries to 20 senior citizens from the Lotus Heart
Association, Zakat Selangor Senior Citizen Care Centre, the Seri Kenangan Cheras home
and Victory home.

"More than 300 elderly patients have received free surgeries since 2006 and they are having
a better quality of life due to their restored vision," he added.

KPJ Eye Specialist Centre director of medicine Dr. Choong Yean Yaw said cataracts and
glaucoma are the most common health conditions affecting eyesight.
He added that cataract is reversible but many are not aware of available treatment or cannot
afford the procedure, while glaucoma is treatable if detected early.- The Sundaily