26/12/2025
👁️ “A Century of Sight - How eye care has changed over the past 100 years”
Reflections on vision, progress, and time — at the closing of 2025 - Dr Chua 27/12/2025
As we bid farewell to 2025, it is worth pausing to reflect on something we often take for granted — our sight.
In 1925, the world was in the Roaring Twenties, also known as the Jazz Age — a time of post–World War I economic optimism, cultural vibrancy, and rapid social change. Yet, if you had stepped into an eye clinic back then, the experience would be almost unrecognisable. Despite the era’s energy and progress, the four most common causes of poor vision could rarely be treated effectively, and loss of sight was often accepted as inevitable.
⸻
👓 Cataract: from thick glasses to clear vision (Fig. 1 & 2)
In the past, cataract surgery was performed only when the cataract became very “mature”. The operation involved a large incision, prolonged bed rest, and no artificial lens was implanted.
Patients were left dependent on thick “bottle-bottom” aphakic spectacles, which often distorted vision.
Today, cataract surgery is quick, precise, and usually performed as a day procedure. An artificial lens is implanted inside the eye, restoring clear and natural vision for most patients.
⸻
👁️ Glaucoma: from harsh drops to smarter treatment (Fig. 3)
Decades ago, treatment options for glaucoma were limited to just two eye drops — pilocarpine and epinephrine. These were less effective and often caused troublesome side effects.
Now, with modern eye drops, laser treatments, and refined surgery, many patients are able to preserve their vision for life.
⸻
🍬 Diabetic eye disease: once hopeless, now treatable (Fig. 4)
Before the advent of retinal lasers and eye injections, diabetic retinopathy frequently led to severe vision loss or blindness.
Today, with OCT scans, retinal laser treatment, and anti-VEGF injections, we can detect disease early and protect vision — and in some cases, even improve it.
⸻
🌟 Macular degeneration: a true game changer (Fog. 4)
In the past, patients with wet age-related macular degeneration almost invariably lost their central vision.
Now, regular eye injections have transformed this condition from a blinding disease into a manageable one.
⸻
🌈 From fate to hope
A century ago, even during the glamour of the Jazz Age, vision loss was often accepted as fate.
By 2025, much of it has become preventable, treatable, and sometimes reversible.
We are truly fortunate to live in this era of eye care.
👁️✨ May 2026 be a bright year — for your eyes, your health, and your vision.
🎉🥳🎊 🎉🥳🎊 🎉🥳🎊 🎉🥳🎊 🎉🥳🎊 🎉🥳🎊 🎉🥳🎊 🎉🥳🎊 🎉🥳🎊 🎉🥳🎊 🎉🥳
👁️ 《一个世纪的视界 —— 眼科医学百年之变》
在 2025 年岁末，回望视力、进步与时间
蔡鐘能眼科医生写于27/12/2025
当 2025 年渐渐走向尾声，我们或许该放慢脚步，认真想一想一件常被忽略、却无比珍贵的事——我们的视力。
在 1925 年，世界正处于所谓的 “咆哮的二十年代”，也被称为 爵士时代。那是一个战后复苏、经济蓬勃、文化多姿多彩的年代。然而，若当时你走进一间眼科诊所，今日的我们恐怕会感到陌生甚至震惊。尽管时代充满活力，当年最常见的四种视力问题却鲜少能被有效治疗，视力衰退往往被视为无可避免的命运。
⸻
👓 白内障：从厚重眼镜到清晰重见 (图1 与2）
一个世纪前，白内障往往要等到“完全成熟”才动手术。手术切口大、恢复期长，而且眼内并不会植入人工晶体。
病人术后只能依赖厚重的无晶体眼镜——俗称“酒瓶底眼镜”，视物变形，生活极为不便。
而今天，白内障手术已变得精准、安全，大多可在日间完成。人工晶体直接植入眼内，让许多患者迅速恢复自然、清晰的视力。
⸻
👁️ 青光眼：从粗糙控制到精细治疗 （图3）
早年治疗青光眼，主要只有两种眼药水——毛果芸香碱（pilocarpine）和肾上腺素（epinephrine），效果有限，副作用却不少。
如今，我们拥有更安全有效的降眼压药物、激光治疗及改良手术技术，让许多青光眼患者得以长期保住视力。
⸻
🍬 糖尿病眼病：曾经绝望，如今可控 （图4）
在没有视网膜激光和眼内注射的年代，糖尿病视网膜病变往往一路恶化，最终导致严重视损，甚至失明。
今天，借助 OCT 扫描、视网膜激光及 抗 VEGF 注射，我们能更早发现病变、更精准介入，保护视力——有时甚至能改善原本已受损的视觉。
⸻
🌟 黄斑部病变：真正的转捩点 （图4）
过去，罹患湿性老年性黄斑部病变的患者，几乎注定会失去中央视力，阅读、认人、驾驶都变得困难。
如今，定期眼内注射已让这类疾病从“必然致盲”，转变为可长期管理的慢性病。
⸻
🌈 从宿命到希望
一百年前，即使身处充满魅力与乐观的爵士时代，视力流失往往仍被视为命中注定。
而到了 2025 年，许多眼疾已变得可以预防、可以治疗，甚至有时可以逆转。
我们确实很幸运，能活在这个眼科医学飞跃发展的时代。
👁️✨ 愿 2026 年，带来更明亮的视界——给你的双眼、你的健康，也给你的生活。
#蔡鐘能眼科医生 #马来西亚眼科医生 #国际眼科中心 #古晋眼科中心 #诗巫眼科中心 #青光眼 #黄斑病变 #糖尿病并发症 #白内障
