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Straits Times
01-06-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Implants could help treat eye condition which causes vision loss
The implant has already received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO Implants could help treat eye condition which causes vision loss SINGAPORE - Instead of receiving uncomfortable eye injections around once a month for a disease that can lead to blindness, patients may soon have an easier alternative. A new innovation will allow them to be treated twice a year via an implant the size of a rice grain. Swiss healthcare firm Roche, which developed the treatment, is now conducting a study of the implant involving more than 400 participants in 16 countries, including Singapore – the only country in South-east Asia in the study and one of only three Asian countries. The study, which ends in December 2026, looks at the efficacy and safety of refilling the implant every nine months, compared with every six months. The implant has already received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. Treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) currently requires injections into the eye as often as once a month. Studies have noted that patients' discomfort with the treatment can lead to undertreatment of the disease. The disease affects the part of the eye that provides the sharp vision needed for activities such as reading and driving, and can result in rapid and severe vision loss if left untreated. It results when new and abnormal blood vessels grow uncontrolled under the macula – the part of the retina responsible for sharp central vision – causing swelling, bleeding and fibrosis. The condition, also known as 'wet' AMD because these new blood vessels leak fluid into the retina, is one of the leading causes of blindness in Singapore, affecting more than 125,000 people aged 40 or older. This number is expected to increase to almost 200,000 by 2040, according to a study published in Annals, the official journal of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore in 2018. Roche's innovation to treat nAMD a refillable eye implant that continuously delivers a customised formulation of ranibizumab – a drug used to treat a number of eye conditions – over a period of several months. Also known as a port delivery system, the implant is inserted into the eye via a simple procedure and requires just two refills a year. Roche said in a statement that the implant could result in more reliable improvements in vision for people living with nAMD, reducing the risk of disease recurrence. Decreasing the need for frequent eye injections and doctor visits can also reduce the treatment burden for patients, the firm said. Singapore currently has four sites involved with the trial – the National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore General Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and Eye & Retina Surgeons @ Camden Medical, a private clinic. Prof Caroline Chee and Dr Yuen Yew Sen from the department of ophthalmology at National University Hospital who took part in the trial. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO Dr Yuen Yew Sen, a consultant with NUH's ophthalmology department, is among those involved with the Roche's study here. He told The Straits Times only those who have recently been diagnosed with nAMD qualify for the trial, and four patients have received the implant at NUH. Once the treatment becomes commercially available – which he said could happen by 2026 – most patients should qualify for the treatment, except for those who have other eye conditions such as glaucoma. Beyond some initial minor discomfort following the surgery, patients who receive the implant are unlikely to notice it is even there, Dr Yuen said. 'Once the stitches dissolve, they don't actually feel anything,' said Dr Yuen, noting that similar implants are also used to treat conditions such as glaucoma. Such implants can also be used to treat other diseases related to the eyes, with trials looking at their use in addressing diabetic retinopathy on the cards, he said. Professor Gemmy Cheung, head of the retina research group at the Singapore Eye Research Institute, notes that nAMD presents differently in Asian populations due to the higher prevalence of a subtype known as polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). 'PCV primarily impacts the blood vessels in the layer beneath the retina, causing serious vision impairment or even vision loss if left untreated,' she said. This is of concern because PCV has historically been considered more difficult to treat, with less predictable outcomes than typical nAMD, she said. While conventional treatments are effective in most PCV cases, frequent retreatment is required, said Prof Cheung, who also heads the medical retina department of the Singapore National Eye Centre. Lapses in treatment can result in reactivation of lesions and new instances of bleeding, she added. New therapies such as the port delivery system offer a 'promising approach to providing sustained disease control' in PCV, she said, adding they can potentially reduce the burden of frequent injections and improve long-term outcomes for patients. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
11-05-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Bishan East is latest neighbourhood to get community litter-picking facility
The CleanPod launched on May 11 will help residents take the initiative in clearing litter in the community by providing equipment such as tongs and buckets. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO SINGAPORE - More community litter-picking facilities will be rolled out across the island to nurture collective responsibility in public cleanliness, said the Public Hygiene Council (PHC). The latest housing estate to get the community shed, known as a CleanPod, is Bishan Cresta . Located next to the estate at Bishan Street 13 and along the park connector, the CleanPod launched on May 11 will help residents take the initiative in clearing litter in the community by providing equipment such as tongs and buckets. The launch capped off a month-long Keep Singapore Clean 2025 campaign, which saw over 13,000 participants take part in some 250 cleanup activities across residential areas, parks, and community spaces. The expansion of CleanPods - Bishan Cresta's is the 23rd one - is part of the CleanHood initiative launched in April to deepen collective responsibility for public cleanliness by equipping the community with resources to keep their common spaces hygienic. Following the launch event, more than 50 residents and volunteers were joined by newly-elected Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Elysa Chen to pick up litter in the vicinity using equipment from the shed. Among them was Mr Jonathan Ng, who is chairman of the Bishan Youth Network and who has been volunteering in Bishan for 10 years. The 28-year-old public servant said that while there are estate cleanup initiatives from time to time, the equipment would have to be brought over from Bishan Community Club. The new CleanPod eases the logistics and makes it more convenient for the volunteers, he added. The shed also serves as a reminder for everyone to keep the park clean, he said. He noted that while the estate is generally clean, the litter found in the residential areas include food wrappers and flyers, while plastic bags and cups can be found near the park connector. PHC chairman Andrew Khng said at the launch that keeping Singapore clean is a shared mission, and reflects the community's shared values of responsibility, respect, and collective ownership of one's home. The first CleanPod was launched in July 2019, and while initially placed at parks and beaches, they were later expanded into residential neighbourhoods from October 2021. There are now CleanPods in housing estates in Beach Road, Pek Kio and Yuhua, as well as in Coney Island Park and Gardens by the Bay. When asked about the utilisation rate of the existing CleanPods, Mr Khng said 'usage has grown steadily'. He added the council is identifying more strategic locations to roll out CleanPods, making it easier for residents and organisations to take part in spontaneous clean-ups or to plan community activities as part of everyday life. PHC has also officially launched the Cleanhood @School initiative for primary and secondary schools, and that students will also have access to CleanPods within their estates to support their learning and activities, he added. The new CleanPod in Bishan is located next to Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary and Secondary School. Mr Khng said that as part of the Cleanhood @School initiative, primary schools students will go through the Buddy Clean Workshop, where they will learn about Singapore's cleanliness journey, develop appreciation for cleaners, and gain hands-on experience through proper use of cleaning tools and cleaning their schools. Ms Chen, who was elected on May 3, told reporters at the event that she had spoken to students from Ai Tong School about their clean-up initiatives, and that she was very proud of their community spirit. Newly-elected Bishan-Toa Payoh MP Elysa Chen (second from right) handing out tools and equipment to volunteers on May 11. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO The executive director of CampusImpact, a charity which helps disadvantaged youth, also said she was touched by her residents' warmth since the election, and that some early priorities include introducing mental health initiatives for the community. 'I don't have a concrete plan worked out right now, (but) I just know that this is a big need in our community,' she said. 'There's also a lot of interest from our young people who want to come along and help me with it, so it really has to be a ground-up thing. So there's going to be a process of consultation, working with the grassroots, and seeing what that actual plan looks like.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
10-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Me and My Money: Venture builder ran a thriving business selling to his secondary schoolmates
Mr Lee Haoming is chief executive of Louken Group, a venture builder that has supported the growth of home-grown brands. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO SINGAPORE - Mr Lee Haoming's school days formed a repository of his entrepreneurial leanings. In secondary school, he bought blank CDs and duplicated computer games to sell to his schoolmates. He also spotted an opportunity in stationery, buying items at wholesale prices and selling them to his schoolmates, effectively competing with the school's bookshop. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Emirates opens first retail store in Singapore, with carrier expecting higher air traffic
The Emirates World store, which spans over 330 sq m, is located at Odeon 333, across the street from Raffles Hotel. ST PHOTOS: DESMOND FOO SINGAPORE - Dubai-based airline Emirates on May 6 opened its first retail store in Singapore, where customers can experience its first-class suite and be assisted with services like ticket purchases or upgrades. The Emirates World store, which spans over 330 sq m, is located at Odeon 333, across the street from Raffles Hotel. This comes as Emirates said it has flown more than 800,000 passengers between Singapore and Dubai in 2024, with the airline expecting the numbers to grow. Mr Adnan Kazim, Emirates' deputy president and chief commercial officer, who inaugurated the opening of the store, said: 'Singapore has always been a cornerstone of Emirates' operations in South-east Asia... We look forward to welcoming customers into this new home and continuing to grow in Singapore in the years ahead.' 'We realised that many companies are moving away from interaction and connection with people, and it's important that we create that link with our consumers and passengers,' he said, adding that the retail store is an important component of Emirates' aim to connect with their customers. Customers can find expert advice on travel planning from the store's consultants. The store also features interactive displays to let visitors experience the airline's in-flight experience in person, including an experiential First Class Suite installation where they can check out the plush leather seating and sliding privacy doors. Travellers value in-person retail experiences, particularly for travel, said Emirates in a statement on May 6. The store 'offers a human touch to booking, allowing visitors to receive personalised travel recommendations, access exclusive fare deals, and explore Emirates' best-in-class products up close', the airline said. The store is part of a 100 million dirham (S$35 million) investment with a three-year plan, in which Emirates is mapping more than 40 retail stores by 2028 in places including the United States, Europe and Asia. 'We don't just want to offer our customers air tickets, we also want to offer holiday packages and upgrades to their tickets – it's a more interactive experience that we want to provide,' said Mr Kazim. Those who visit the store can also explore smart technology experiences such as the 'selfie mirror', which snaps pictures of travellers against scenic destination backdrops. The new store also showcases a wide range of Emirates' upcycled products, such as bags, document holders and travel pouches. Emirates operates four daily flights from Singapore to Dubai and beyond, as well as one daily flight to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In the airline's first full year of operations in Singapore in 1990, it flew more than 12,500 passengers between the Republic and Dubai. Emirates is one of the two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates, with the other being Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
