JOHNSON & JOHNSON VISION RECOGNISES 24 OPTICAL CENTRES FOR DELIVERING PROFESSIONAL EYE CARE 

DEC 4, 2018 10PM

 

(Left to right) Sheahnee Iman Lee, Moderator; Nor Azizah Ismail, Woon Pak Seong and Jeremy Tay sharing on the importance to educate consumers on better eye health.

Johnson & Johnson Vision today inaugurated 24 optical centres as ACUVUE Eye Health Centres. Endorsed by the Association of Malaysian Optometrists (AMO), the status is given to outlets that uphold quality and professional eye care services according to national guidelines. 

Asians at a higher risk for vision impairment
While Malaysians become more health conscious, many often overlook eye health. The World Health Organisation reports indicates that by 2050, the prevalence of myopia will be much higher in high-income regions of the Asia Pacific, in east Asia and in south-east Asia.

It is also estimated that one in every 10 children in Malaysia suffer from an undiagnosed vision impairment. A Johnson & Johnson study conducted in 2017 also noted that 42 per cent of contact lens wearers did not know contact lenses are considered a medical device requiring a prescription. With Asians being at a higher risk for vision impairment, Johnson & Johnson Vision has made a push to educate the public on the importance of eye care.

“The recognition of 24 optical centres as ACUVUE Eye Health Centre sets the standard for holistic eye care in Malaysia. With the continuous cross-partnership of the Malaysian Optical Council (MOC), the Association of Malaysian Optometrist (AMO) and Johnson & Johnson in 2017, the Contact Lens Practice Guidelines were launched to better equip eye care professionals with tools to encourage contact lens users in Malaysia to not risk their eyesight, seek proper eye examination and consultation before purchasing contact lenses,” said Jeremy Tay, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Business Unit Director. 

What's in an eye test?
An eye test is more than a vision test and comprises vision testing, clinical refraction and assessment of the efficient use of your eyes as well as an assessment of eye health. Only after completing a full eye
examination, spectacles or contact lenses are prescribed and dispensed.

Quality eye care
The 24 optical centres recognised as ACUVUE Eye Health Centre are:










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​The danger of purchasing contact lenses of the shelves
​Woon Pak Seong, President of Association of Malaysian Optometrists, said that most Malaysians visit an optical store as a purely retail experience. However, a visit to the optometrist is more than just buying glasses or contact lens off-the-shelf after an eye check.

"Regular and proper eye examinations are required to ensure that the prescription is current. Also, it is important for consumers to consult a skilled and certified optometrist, for many common eye diseases are best treated when an early diagnosis is made."

Panellist Nor Azizah Ismail, secretary of The Malaysian Optical Council commented that, “There are often misconceptions amongst the public that glasses or contact lenses are not necessary or view contact lenses as one-size-fits-all. However, the truth is that non-optometric distribution of any contact lenses may place the wearer’s eye health at risk and more importantly, wearers may miss out on crucial, regular eye health and vision checks. As such, there is a need to enable an environment for consumers to be aware of the need for eye checks with professional eye health centres and the standard of eye care service they should be receiving as well as where can they receive it.”

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