The Qi of Kindness

When qigong and taiji master Daniel Tan met the teacher of famous actor and wushu exponent Jet Li recently, the latter left him with some wise words. The best way for qi to flow through your body is through acts of kindness, said the shifu.

And Master Daniel did just that by sharing his expert knowledge of Qigong with Macular Degeneration Society members last Saturday. For more than an hour at the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, he demonstrated how breathing techniques could help improve particular organs of our body. 

He also brought along a big team of volunteers who patiently taught nearly 30 MDS members how to coordinate breathing with stretching. Most importantly, the volunteers guided members through the deceptively simple posture of standing meditation. 

Exco member Anny Leow, who had recently hurt her back, said she felt perceptible improvement after the hour-long session and tingling sensations through her injured back. 

It was the first time MDS has organised a Qigong event and the novel exercises appropriately rounded up the year. See you in 2014! 

Qigong for eyes

We are coming to the end of the year and MDS is organising a free Qigong session for members as our last event of the 2013. 

Qigong helps to boost our immunity and enhance blood circulation through deep and slow breathing. This supplies more oxygen and improves blood circulation to our meridian points and our organs and help us stay healthier. 

Master Daniel, a Qigong Shifu will be sharing and teaching the Six Sounds of Breathing Exercises and the Eight Forms of Stretching & Breathing Exercise which will benefit our health and our eyes. Click here to see his website.

Venue: Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Kaizen Room 5 at Learning Centre, Tower B, Level 1. 

Date: Nov 9, 2013 (Saturday)

Time: 2.30pm to 3.30pm

Please indicate your attendance by either calling Anne (6238-7387), or sending an e-mail to alleyes@singnet.com.sg

More eye drops possibilities?

Another study is experimenting with the possibility of using eye drops to treat macular degeneration. It is a far superior method compared to the discomfort and pain of injection - the current predominant way of delivery. This advantage is summed up in the first sentence of this Huffington Post article: "A drop a day might soon keep blindness away." 

In short, it is easy, convenient and likely to be cheaper compared to injections. Good news all round for patients. Click here to read this latest eye drops experiment by Tufts University in Massachusetts. 

There are previous attempts at devising an eye drop solution to treatment. Remember the shark eye drops story which we posted here in June this year? Or even this project from Texas, first reported on in 2008? 

In any case, the move away from injections to eye drops is an exciting one. Not only could it be a further form of treatment for macular degeneration, but it could also be a far more economical and comfortable one for all of us. 

When Grandma Sees A Whirlpool

It took Denise Au Eong five months to write the children's book When Grandma Sees a Whirlpool but she found it a fulfilling experience. Despite having to juggle school work and writing her maiden book, Denise (below, centre) said it was not difficult. 

She was speaking to Macular Degeneration Society members on Saturday during a special launch of the book. The children's book, which tells of a grandmother and her grandson's journey towards learning about age-related macular degeneration, is meant to educate young ones about the vision-robbing disease.

Denise, who is the daughter of MDS adviser Au Eong Kah Guan, shared that response to the book has been very positive. And she is already working on a second children's book on cataracts. 

Dr Au Eong added that When Grandma Sees a Whirlpool is meant for children between the age of 8-10. Denise has been joining her dad on community outreach programmes to build awareness of vision diseases and it was natural step for her to build on the experiences and pen a book. 

MDS also held its annual general meeting after the launch of the book. President Sharon Siddique gave a report of the year's events and members present also discussed possible events next year. Sharon paid tribute to Dr Au Eong for his continued guidance and support. 

Dr Au Eong and Denise have donated many copies of the book to MDS to help us raise funds. All members who have paid their dues for 2012-2013 get a copy free. 

Reminder: AGM this Sat

To all MDS members, please remember that we are having our Annual General Meeting this Saturday. And in conjunction with our meeting, we will also be having a special launch of a children's book on age-related macular degeneration. 

See our earlier post for all the details. 

Look forward to seeing you on Saturday! 

Revolutionary lens implants

More reports of how implanted lens can help improve the vision of dry AMD patients. This new IOL-Revolution lenses have been introduced in the United Kingdom and seem to be making strong progress. 

Read this report to find out more how it has helped someone like Jeffrey Howell, 68 (below), a retired general manager of an engineering company.

This new lens should be an improvement of the previous IOL-VIP lens we posted on this blog five years ago. Read our previous report from 2008. 

Notice for 2013 Annual General Meeting

Dear MDS members,

Our 2013 MDS AGM will be held on Saturday afternoon, 31 August 2013 from 2.30pm to 4pm. 

At 2.30pm we will have a special launch of Denise Au Eong’s recently published book, When Grandma Sees a Whirlpool. The story is about a young boy who accompanies his mother and grandma on a visit to an ophthalmologist, where Grandma is diagnosed with AMD. Denise will tell us how she came to write the book, and be on hand to autograph copies.

Denise is the daughter of our MDS advisor, Dr Au Eong Kah Guan, who has generously given each MDS member a copy of the book, which you can collect at the AGM. If you are a lapsed member, come and pay up your $10 for 2013 membership. You will still come out ahead, as the book sells for $12!

AGENDA OF THE 6th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)

Date: Saturday, 31st August 2013

Time: 2.30pm – 4pm

Venue: All For Eyes, Tanglin Shopping Centre, #05-23

2.30pm – Welcome by MDS Secretary, Peh Shing Huei

2.35pm – Discussion with Denise Au Eong, followed by tea break

3.15pm – MDS AGM 

Annual Report 2012/2013 

Financial Report 2012/2013

Overview of MDS online: website, blog and facebook

Discussion of future activities 2013/2014

Please indicate your attendance by either calling Anne (6238-7387), or sending an e-mail to alleyes@singnet.com.sg.

We hope to see you on the 31st of August!