Protecting Our Sight: ACUVUE� Eye Health Centre to raise eye care standards in Malaysia

Johnson & Johnson Vision recognises 24 optical
centres leading the way for higher eye health standards in Malaysia by
delivering high quality, professional and holistic eye care for consumers

�

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach
- 13 December 2018 - Johnson &
Johnson Vision inaugurated 24 optical centres as ACUVUE® Eye Health Centres. Endorsed
by the Association of Malaysian Optometrists (AMO), the ACUVUE® Eye Health Centre
status recognises eye health centres in Malaysia that uphold quality,
professional eye care services according to national guidelines and in doing so
are well positioned to lead the way for higher eye health standards in
Malaysia.

 

While Malaysians become more health conscious, many often
overlook eye health. The World Health Organisation reports
that myopia and high myopia were
estimated to affect 27% (1893 million) and 2.8% (170 million) of the world
population respectively[1]
. The
report further 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 Asia1. It is also estimated that one in every 10 children in Malaysia suffer
from an undiagnosed vision impairment[2]
. A Johnson
& Johnson study conducted in 2017 also noted that 42% of contact lens
wearers did not know contact lenses are considered a medical device requiring a
prescription[3].
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. This initiative continues from
the introduction of consumer eye health awareness launched in 2016, to educate
consumers on better eye health, how to access the
best vision correction and healthier contact lens options. 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.

 

He added, “Optometrists play an integral role as
the first line of response to provide primary eye care services for the public
and we believe that with the recognition and endorsement by the Association of
Malaysian Optometrist (AMO), the launch of the ACUVUE® Eye Health Centres will
help Malaysians gain better access to the highest quality of professional and
holistic eye care to have healthier, more comfortable vision.”

 

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. The ACUVUE®
Eye Health Centre status recognised and endorsed by the Association of
Malaysian Optometrists (AMO) provides consumers with a reference point on where
they may access quality eye care service provided by professionals who commit
to the patient’s eye health first.

 

The 24 optical centres as ACUVUE® Eye Health Centre are:

 

ACUVUE® EYE HEALTH CENTRES
Eye Health Centres	Location
Anna Eyecare Optometry	Kuching
B.L. Optometrist	Bangsar
Chan May May Optometrist	Penang
Chan Visual Care Optometrist	Penang
Eye Street Optometrist	Old Klang Road
Eyez Optometry Holdings	Bangsar Village II
Eyecon Optometry	Melaka
Eyeflex Optometrist	Johor Bahru
Flexzoom Optometrist	Johor Bahru
Focus Point	Pavillion Kuala Lumpur
Focus Point Signature	KLCC
Focus Point Signature	Mid Valley
I-Care By Eyez Optometry Holdings	Atria
I-Care By Eyez Optometry Holdings	Bangsar Village
I-View Optometrist	Penang
M & J Optometry Centre	Bangsar
Paris Miki	1 Utama
Paris Miki	KLCC
Paris Miki	Mid Valley
S.L Chan Optometrist	Ipoh
Vision Space	Damansara Utama
Vision Space	Sunway Giza
Vision Space	SS2
Zeiss Vision Center by Eyez Optometry Holdings	Pavillion

Woon Pak Seong, President of Association of Malaysian Optometrists,

said, “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. As such, patients who seek a
qualified optometrist at a centre that has been endorsed by the Association of
Malaysian Optometrists (AMO) is assured they will receive the proper eye care
service and advice.

 

The public is often confronted with a flood of
information surrounding their eye health. Speaking as a panellist during the event, Puan 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.”

 

About Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Companies

 

Johnson & Johnson is a company committed to caring for
the world, one person at a time. This is consistently done through the
embracing of research and science – bringing innovative ideas, products and
services to advance the health and well-being of people. Since the inception of
the Vision Care division, they have strived to increase awareness of the
importance of vision care and to provide the world’s most exceptional vision
correction options. To that end, Johnson & Johnson’s passion for innovation
and unwavering commitment to the highest standards of quality has enabled them
to become the world leader in vision care, transforming vision correction in
1988 with the world’s first soft disposable contact lenses. They are the makers
of a family of outstanding ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses, worn by more people
than any other brand in the world[4]. Johnson
& Johnson Vision Care is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.

                                                                                                

Johnson
& Johnson Vision Care Malaysia adheres closely to the credo-based culture
of the organization, championing public education, development of professionals
in the industry and community development initiatives.

 

About Association of Malaysian Optometrists (AMO)

 

The optical industry has been in Malaysia for decades, but it has
been populated mostly by dispensing opticians and unqualified practitioners. In
1991, the government implemented the Optical Act. Through this act, a new born
profession has been categorized and that is the optometrist. They are not only
trained merely on dispensing spectacles but are university trained in eye
examination. They are taught about the eye structure, its biochemistry, its
optics, and its pharmacology among others. So this is the properly trained
professional forming the new generation of practices.

 

Our association was formed in February 1984, consisting of 200 odd
members throughout Malaysia and overseas. Today, we have close to 600 members.
In Malaysia, it is the largest body that represents the optometrist profession.
We are the primary eye care professionals who recognize eye problems and plan a
proper course of therapy related to the eye or carry out the appropriate
referrals. Through this association, we hope to unite all optometrists
throughout the country and together we will promote by all reasonable means, the
encouragement and advancement of the science of optics in its application to
the preservation of sight.