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What was touted as a cure turned out to be more of a hindrance for one family when their twin daughters found their vision deteriorating rather than improving after they paid $ 5,800 to have their myopia treated.
The 10-year-old girls sought treatment at SLM Visioncare in March this year, Shin Min Daily News reported. According to her 41-year-old mother, the website for the eye clinic claimed to be able to help patients recover naturally from myopia without the use of drugs, surgery or injections. The website no longer works.
During one particular session, one of her daughters mentioned that one of the machines used in the treatment had malfunctioned and would not be used that day. After a couple more sessions, the woman learned that her daughter’s vision had not yet improved, so she questioned the clinic about the device’s alleged malfunction.
A couple of sessions later, the woman was told that her daughter’s vision had suddenly improved. Suspicious, she took her children to KK Children’s and Women’s Hospital, but found their vision had deteriorated.
It turns out they weren’t the only ones affected.
Ministry of Health, HSA Research Clinic
The Ministry of Health (MINSA) is investigating the clinic after receiving six complaints from its clients.
The Singapore Consumer Authority (Case) said it received 11 consumer complaints against SLM Visioncare between January 1 of last year and November 16 of this year.
Separately, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is investigating both SLM Visioncare and ICC Visioncare to advertise their treatments as a cure for myopia following two complaints against them.
Speaking to Today, two other clients, a father of a 10-year-old boy and a mother of a six-year-old boy, reported that their children also found their condition worsened despite paying $ 2,490 and $ 3,800 respectively for treatment at SLM Visioncare. .
The clinic also has several one-star reviews on Google about its alleged “ineffectiveness,” while another page accusing the business of being a scam showed that the complaints arose a year ago.
SLM Visioncare questions the authenticity of complaints
In response to inquiries from Today, SLM Visioncare said it questioned the authenticity of the complaints, adding that they had received almost no complaints in the last 30 years of operation in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China, as well as in the previous four years in Singapore.
They added that the complaints may have been caused by “disgruntled former employees” who were going to start a similar company.
Since its clients must follow a strict vision care program, part of which includes a 30-minute daily eye exercise, the clinic emphasized that results would vary depending on the diligence of each client.
A client told Today that her 11-year-old daughter no longer needed glasses after attending 11 sessions that cost a total of $ 1,900. He added that his astigmatism had also improved.
However, experts told local media that they are not aware of any scientifically proven cures for myopia and astigmatism.
Experts say there is no cure for myopia
Dr. Lam Pin Min, currently director of the Eagle Eye Center’s Adult Strabismus and Pediatric Ophthalmology Service and a former Minister of State for Health, said that the promoted treatment methods must undergo rigorous clinical trials to demonstrate their efficacy and safety before that they can be used to treat patients.
Meanwhile, Jerry Tan Eye Surgery senior consultant and ophthalmic surgeon Dr. Jerry Tan said that selling cures for myopia was “like selling snake oil.”
While pseudomyopia, a condition in which the muscles of the eye have difficulty adjusting to looking far after focusing a shorter distance, something known as transient myopia or pseudomyopia, can be improved with eye exercises, myopia is the result of people whose eyeballs are too long or corneas that are too curved.
“Those are physical things that cannot be changed,” he explained.
The Vice President of the Singapore Optometric Association, Ms Chui Wen Juan, said that the use of eye anatomy and scientific jargon without clear explanations about conditions such as farsightedness and astigmatism can lead to misinformation and can mislead the public into believing “cures” not validated.
Certification and qualifications required
Under the Medicines (Advertising and Selling) Act, companies that provide health care services cannot advertise any services or skills related to the treatment of any disease or medical condition, including myopia.
There are also regulations for the practice of optometry and the provision of medical devices by optometrists and opticians.
Under the Optometrists and Opticians Act, all optometrists and opticians who provide eye care services to the public must be trained, qualified, and certified by the Board of Optometrists and Opticians, and have a valid practice certificate before being issued to them. allow to provide such services to clients.
Violators found guilty of practicing optometry or optics without the proper qualifications could face a fine of up to $ 25.00 or a jail of six months, or both, for the first offense, while repeat offenders can face a fine of up to $ 50,000, a 12-month jail sentence, or both.
