The Global Eye Health Handbook (eng)

This open-access book provides an up-to-date, evidence-based approach and tools for diagnosing and treating ocular emergencies in low-resource settings. It provides decision trees for common eye complaints, approaches to both common and sight-threatening conditions, basic treatment strategies, and guidance for triage to tertiary settings.

Each chapter presents a systematic approach to diagnosing and managing various common eye conditions such as endophthalmitis, glaucoma, and uveitis, facilitating early and accurate diagnosis in emergency practice with minimal resources. The book also addresses prompt intervention and seamless referral to tertiary settings when necessary, enabling professionals to navigate emergencies confidently. It includes some standard operating procedures useful to primary and secondary healthcare professionals.

The book is relevant for eye health professionals, empowering them to deliver critical care in resource-limited environments and safeguarding vision while preventing long-term complications. It also aligns with 'SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being' and public health.

Dr. Anna CS Tan is a clinical associate professor and a researcher at the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC), Singapore. Her areas of research interest include age-related macular degeneration, ocular imaging, low vision, visual rehabilitation, aging, digital technology and public health. As the SNEC Director of Global Eye Health she leads her team in multiple regional and international projects and collaborations in places such as Laos, Nepal and the Pacific Islands as part of SNEC being a World Health Collaborating Centre for the Prevention of Blindness in the Western Pacific. Dr. Tan has published over 100 articles in peer-reviewed national and international journals; and authored book chapters and editorials. She has received multiple grants for her research and has won awards including the 'Catalyst Award' in the 2020 US National Academy of Medicines Healthy Longevity global competition, and the SingHealth 'Publish Award' and the recent ARVO Emerging Advocate award. Dr Tan is also a member of the prestigious Macula Society and serves as treasurer in the Singapore Society of Ophthalmologists.

Dr. Marcus Ang (MBBS, MMED, MCI, FRCS, PhD) is a senior consultant ophthalmologist and head of the cornea and external eye disease service, head of the refractive service, and advisor at the myopia center at the Singapore National Eye Center (SNEC), Singapore. He is also the founding director of Global Clinic, where he regularly organizes free eye care and cataract surgery in countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, India, and Myanmar. Dr. Ang has published over 200 papers in peer-reviewed national and international journals, authored several book chapters, and given invited lectures at international conferences. He holds several patents and has received numerous awards, including the President’s Award for Philanthropy in Singapore (2017), the Outstanding Service in the Prevention of Blindness Award from the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) (2019), the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Secretariat Award (2021), the Artemis Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (2019), and the ‘Vision Excellence Award’ from the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) (2020). Dr. Ang serves on the board of the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), is president of the Singapore Society of Ophthalmology, secretary of the APAO committee, and participates in several regional committees including the council for the Asia Pacific Ocular Imaging Society and the Asia Pacific Artificial Cornea and Keraprosthesis Society.

Dr. Ralene Sim (MBBS, MMed (Ophth), FRCOphth) is currently a senior resident at the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC). She graduated from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (National University of Singapore) in 2019, was awarded Dean’s List as top 5% of the cohort in years 2016 and 2017 and was accorded the SingHealth Medical Student Talent Development Award in 2017. She also completed a one-year fellowship at the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) prior to residency. She has multiple publications as first author in leading peer-reviewed journals and presented her work in multiple international and regional conferences. She was awarded Best Poster in the NHGEI-International Ophthalmology Congress 2018, Best Oral Presentation for SG Healthcare AI Datathon & Expo 2021, Poster Runner up for APACRS 2022 (General Category) and Best Poster for APACRS 2023 (General Category). She was also awarded the Heroes Grant in 2021 and HOYA Travel Grant for the International Myopia Conference (IMC) in 2022.  She has participated in multiple overseas surgical outreach programmes and was Project Director of an overseas outreach programe for healthcare and education (Project Yangon) from 2015-2016.