9 Costly Eye Care Mistakes Singaporeans Keep Making

Your eyes don't come with a warranty, but the way most of us treat them, you'd think LASIK is a free top-up at NTUC. Singaporeans are notorious for skipping eye checks until we're squinting at the MRT platform display, then panicking and overpaying for a 'quick fix'. The bottom line: eye care mistakes don't just cost you clearer vision — they cost you real money, sometimes thousands of dollars in avoidable treatment. Here's what you need to know about the most common (and expensive) eye care blunders in Singapore, and how to dodge them.

Mistake #1: Skipping Regular Eye Checks Because "Can See What"

Many Singaporeans only visit an optometrist when something's obviously wrong — blurry vision, headaches, or that one time you couldn't read the hawker centre queue number. The problem? Conditions like glaucoma and early cataracts are silent. By the time you notice symptoms, damage may already be irreversible.

Do this instead: Book a basic screening at a neighbourhood optical shop in places like Toa Payoh or Bedok even if you feel fine. Catching issues early is always cheaper than treating advanced ones.

Mistake #2: Confusing Optometrists with Ophthalmologists

This mix-up costs people money and time. Optometrists (found in optical shops) check vision and prescribe glasses/contacts. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat eye diseases, including surgery. Going to an optical shop for a red, painful eye means you'll likely get referred out anyway — wasting a consult fee.

If something feels medically wrong, skip the optical shop and go straight to a polyclinic for a referral — it's cheaper and faster than bouncing between providers.

Mistake #3: DIY-ing Contact Lens Hygiene

Topping up solution instead of replacing it, sleeping in monthly lenses, or rinsing lenses with tap water — these are shockingly common here, especially among students cramming for exams near Bishan or NUS. Corneal infections from poor lens hygiene can cost $200–$1,500 in treatment, and in severe cases, permanent scarring.

• Never reuse contact solution — always fresh, every time.
• Never shower or swim with lenses in.
• Replace lens cases every 3 months (they cost under $5 — cheaper than an infection).

Mistake #4: Buying Cheap Sunglasses Without UV Protection

That $8 pair from the Bugis Street pasar malam might look stylish, but if it lacks UV400 protection, your pupils dilate in the shade of the tint while UV rays still stream in — worse than wearing no sunglasses at all. Cataracts and pterygium (that yellowish eye growth uncles get from years in the sun) are linked to cumulative UV exposure.

Budget tip: You don't need designer brands. Decathlon and Watsons sell UV400-certified sunglasses from $15–$35 — just check the label.

Mistake #5: Ignoring Kids' Myopia Until It's Severe

Singapore has one of the highest childhood myopia rates in the world, and parents often delay treatment thinking glasses are just a "phase." Untreated, progressive myopia increases lifelong risk of retinal detachment and glaucoma. Myopia control treatments (like atropine drops or ortho-K lenses) work best when started early.

Schedule a proper assessment rather than assuming your child will