Ongoing & Completed Research Studies

Singapore Malay Eye Study (SIMES)
Singapore Cohort Study Of the Risk factors for Myopia (SCORM)
Singapore Cohort Study Of the Risk factors for Myopia (SCORM) - Genetic Study
Singapore Longitudinal Aging Study (SLAS) - Eye component
Multi-Centre Retina-Stroke (MCRS) Singapore site study
Sumatra Eye Survey
Tanjong Pagar Survey (TPGS)
The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities Study
The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Medical Image Analysis and Visualization Study
Singapore Cardiovascular Study - Eye Component
Singapore Prospective Study Program (SP2) – Eye Component
Singapore Indian Chinese Cohort Study
Lombok Eye Survey
A Study on Refractive Error, Amblyopia and Strabismus in Singapore Preschoolers


Singapore Malay Eye Study (SIMES)          
Funded by National Medical Research Council, Singapore (S$568,472.00, 1 Jan 2004 - 31 Dec 2007)

This project evaluates the prevalence, risk factors and consequence of common age-related eye diseases in a population-based study among Malay people in Singapore. This population-based study aims to evaluate the prevalence, risk factors and consequences of common age-related eye diseases among 3,200 Malay adults aged 40 years and above who are living in Singapore. This is a three-year study, to be conducted between Aug 2004 and July 2007.

Singapore Cohort study Of the Risk factors for Myopia (SCORM)
Funded by National Medical Research Council, Singapore ($280,475, 2006 - 2008)

Principal Investigator: Saw Seang Mei
Co-Principal Investigators: Donald Tan
Co-investigators: Louis Tong, Chua Wei Han, Allan Fong, Audrey Chia, Chia Kee Seng, David Koh
Advisors: Richard Stone, Joanne Katz
Project Managers: Yvonne Wang, Sim Siew Eng

This cohort study has enrolled 1979 children aged 7 to 9 years from 3 schools since 1999. Yearly eye examinations (cycloplegic autorefraction and biometry measures) will be conducted and the children will be followed for the next 10 years. Risk factors assessed at baseline from a parent-administered interview include near work, IQ, and family history of myopia.

Singapore Cohort study Of the Risk factors for Myopia (SCORM) - Genetic Study
Funded by the Biomedical Research Council, Singapore ($1.74 million, 2007-2009)

Principal Investigator: Saw Seang Mei
Co-investigators: Eric Yap, Roger Beuerman, Chia Kee Seng, Donald Tan, Mark Seielstad, Nishanthi Viranga Eranga, Daniel Ng, Terri Young, Li Yi Ju, Wong Tien Yin
Project Manager: Ang Su Lin

Whole genome association (WGA) studies of DNA from the SCORM study with the availability of environmental and refraction data over the past 3 years will facilitate the discovery of new genes or genetic loci for myopia. The Illujmina HumanHap 550 chip will be used to conduct a systemic search of genes in 1,200 Chinese children: children with a greater change in refraction over the past 3 years will be compared with children with a lower change in refraction over the past 3 years. Fine mapping will be conducted to identify the exact relevant genetic loci or genes.  The associations between change in refractive error over the past 3 years, new genes or genetic loci, and environmental factors such as reading in books per week, will be studied. Other clinical parameters that will be evaluated include the change in eyeball length and the refraction at last visit.

Singapore Longitudinal Aging Study (SLAS) - Eye component
Funded by Singapore Eye Research Institute Research Fund, Singapore, (S$61,240, 1 March 2003 - 28 Feb 2004)

Principal Investigator: Saw Seang Mei
Principal Investigator: Wong Tien Yin
Principal Investigator: Ng Tze Pin
Project Manager: Geok Lan

This project is focused on evaluating the prevalence of refractive error in an elderly population in Singapore

Multi-Centre Retina-Stroke (MCRS) Singapore site study
Funded by National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia (A$599,884, 1 Jan 2005- 31 Dec 2007)

Principal Investigator: Wong Tien Yin
Co-Principal Investigators: Wong Meng Cheong, Saw Seang Mei, Paul Mitchell, Christopher Chen, Chang Hui Meng
Project Manager: Ng Bee Fang

In this study, we evaluate the relationship of retinal microvascular changes to stroke subtypes and to prognosis in patients presenting with acute stroke in tertiary hospitals in Singapore and Australia.

Sumatra Eye Survey
Funded by National Medical Research Council (Singapore Eye Research Institute) and Singapore National Eye Centre (Total: S$43,000, Jan 2001 to July 2004)

Principal Investigator: Saw Seang Mei
Co-Principal Investigator: Rahat Hussein
Co-investigators: Louis Tong, Chua Wei Han, Allan Fong, Alicia Howe, Llewelyn Lee, Cheng Jin Fong, Gus Gazzard, Anne Lee, David Koh, Donald Tan

This prevalence survey of eye diseases including myopia, pterygia, cataract and low vision was conducted in rural villages in central Sumatra.

Tanjong Pagar Survey (TPGS)
Funded by National Medical Research Council, Singapore

Principal Investigator: Steve Seah
Co-Principal Investigator: Paul Foster
Co-Investigators: Saw Seang Mei, Francis Oen, Wong Tien Yin

This was a population-based survey of ocular disorders in adult Chinese people aged 40-79 years living in Singapore, conducted between Oct 1997 and Aug 1998. The study has documented the prevalence and risk factors of myopia, axial length, glaucoma, cataract, pterygium and other diseases in adult Chinese Singaporeans.

The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities Study
Funded by National Institutes of Health-National Eye Institute, USA, (US$291,000, 1 Sep 2002 - 31 Aug 2004)

Co-Principal Investigators: Wong Tien Yin, Ron Klein
Co-investigators: Barbara Klein, Larry Hubbard

This study, involving analysis of existing data in the Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities Study, evaluated the relationship of retinal microvascular changes and incident diabetes, incident hypertension, cerebral white matter lesions, cognitive function and renal disease.

The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Funded by National Institutes of Health-National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, USA
(US$1,3490,997, 1 April 2002 - 31 March 2006)

Co-Principal Investigators: Wong Tien Yin, Ron Klein
Co-investigators: Barbara Klein, Larry Hubbard

This study is aimed at evaluating the relation of retinal microvascular characteristics to subclinical cardiovascular disease, clinical disease, and their risk factors in a population of diverse ethnicities (Caucasians, African-Americans, Hispanics and Asian-Americans).

Medical Image Analysis and Visualization Study
Funded by the National University of Singapore (S$142,000).

Principal Investigator: Dr Lee Mong Li
Co-Principal Investigator: A/Prof Wynne Hsu

Singapore Cardiovascular Study - Eye Compnent
Funded by National Medical Research Council, Singapore (S$$388,300, Jan 2005-Dec 2007)

Principal Investigator: Jeannette Lee
Co-investigators: Tai E Shyong, Tan Chee Eng, Chia Kee Seng, Chew Suok Kai, Jeffrey Cutter, Derrick Heng, Sunil Sethi, Kenneth Hughes

This study is part of the main Singapore Cardiovascular Study, which aims to prospectively determine the optimal definitions of obesity and glucose intolerance for the identification of persons at risk of T2DM or CVD in an Asian population, where the 2,000 subjects who participated in the Thyroid Heart Study (1983-1985) and the National University Heart Study (1993-1995) will be recalled to participate in SCS. The eye component of the SCS aims to determine the prevalence of myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and anisometropia, as well as the potential retinal and macular complications of myopia in Singapore adults (Chinese, Malay and Indian) aged 21 years and above. In particular, the age and time trends of myopia and other refractive errors will be determined by comparing the prevalence rates in young and older Singapore adults.

Singapore Prospective Study Program (SP2) – Eye Component

Principal Investigator: Wong Tien Yin
Co-Principal Investigators: Saw Seang Mei, Tai E Shyong
Co-investigators: Lim Su Chi, Jeanette Lee

This study is an ancillary study of the main SP2 study, which is a population-based study of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in Singapore, where the 4,723 subjects who were seen in the 1992 and 1998 National Health Surveys will be re-called to participate in SP2. The eye component of SP2 aims to determine the prevalence of visual impairment, refractive errors and retinal complications.

Singapore Indian Chinese Cohort Study

Principal Investigator: Wong Tien Yin
Co-Principal Investigator: Saw Seang Mei

This population-based study will quantify and compare the frequency, severity and causes of visual impairment, blindness and risk factors for major eye conditions in 3,200 Singapore Indians and 3,200 Singapore Chinese aged 40 years and above. The protocol will be identical to SiMES to allow comparison of racial/ethnic differences in eye disease between Chinese, Malays and Indians. The relative impact of genes and environment in adults of different ethnicity living in urban Singapore may also be assessed.

Lombok Eye Survey

Principal Investigator: Saw Seang Mei, Martin Bloem
Co-Principal Investigators: Wong Tien Yin, Anuraj Shankar
Co-investigators: Donald Tan, Roy Principe, Colleen Koh, Loo Jing Liang, Allan Fong, Chua Wei Han, Cheng Jing Fong, Loon Seng Chee

This population-based study will be conducted in Lombok, Indonesia and will evaluate the prevalence, risk factors and consequences of common age-related eye diseases among the island residents. Indonesia is one of the most populous developing countries in the world. The rates of open-angle glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma, under corrected refractive error, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration are yet undetermined. The study will be conducted in collaboration with the Helen Keller International Asia Pacific Regional Office. The protocol for this study will be identical to that used in SiMES, which will again allow direct comparison of study outcomes between Singapore Malays and Indonesian Muslim Malays. We estimate that 5,000 adults aged 40 to 80 years will be recruited from enumerated areas in Lombok Island and eye examinations conducted in a central clinic location by ophthalmologists and other trained staff.

A Study on Refractive Error, Amblyopia and Strabismus in Singapore Preschoolers

Principal Investigator: Saw Seang Mei
Co-Principal Investigators: Wong Tien Yin
Co-investigators: David Koh, Chia Kee Seng, Yvonne Ling, Quah Boon Long, Donald Tan, Sonal Farzavandi, Audrey Chia, Lam Pin Min, Kah-Guan Au Eong, Leo Seo Wei, Benjamin Chang

A Study on Refractive Error, Amblyopia and Strabismus in Singapore Preschoolers is a new national study on childhood eye problems funded by the National Medical Research Council. This collaborative study, conducted by researchers from the National University of Singapore, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Alexandra Hospital, and Tan Tock Seng Hospital, is led by A/Prof Saw Seang Mei (Principal Investigator) and A/Prof Wong Tien Yin (Co-PI). It will investigate refractive error, amblyopia, squints and other eye problems in Singaporean Chinese children aged 6 months to 6 years. A total of 3,000 Singaporean Chinese from the South-Western part of Singapore children will be recruited in this study. The study design is based on the Multi-Ethnic Pediatric Eye Disease Study (MEPEDS) coordinated by the University of Southern California , Los Angeles . It consists of a 20-minute interview and comprehensive clinic eye examination. Information from this important study will be useful for healthcare formulation to improve eye care for young Singapore children. Early detection and treatment of these eye diseases such as myopia and squints may lead to strategies to prevent permanent vision loss.