Author: Editor

Epi-LASIK and LASIK are both eye surgery procedures that aim for the same goal, cure far-sightedness (hyperopia), nearsightedness (myopia), and astigmatism. However, Epi-LASIK is known to be much safer procedure than LASIK.  Though complications in the epithelial flap created during LASIK surgery is relatively low, it can possibly cause less than ideal results, or worst permanent vision loss. With Epi-LASIK, the creation of your eyes’ epithelial flap is less risky and, at the same time, the structure of your eye’s cornea is preserved.

Epi-LASIK and LASIK Procedure

Singapore Epi-LASIK doctors create epithelial flap from your eye’s corneal tissue by using a blunt separator. The tool used doesn’t create deeper incision into the corneal layers. After the epithelial flap is removed, a laser is used to sculpt the cornea. In Tony Ho Lasik surgery in Singapore a special contact lens will be placed over the corneal surface to promote faster healing. Since the cornea is not cut, its parts and structural formation stays unharmed and unchanged.

In LASIK, there is a need to cut into your eye’s cornea. A sharp blade is used to create a flap that cuts through the epithelium, down to the cornea. Then, the cornea is reshaped with the use of a laser and the flap made is replaced to its original place. The downside of this procedure is that significant amount of important and healthy corneal tissues are cut, thus, affecting its function and structure. From a practical viewpoint, your cornea with LASIK surgery may heal but not completely and its original strength may never be regained. Moreover, since the flap never heals completely, some complications (e.g. bulging, dislodgement, and ecstasia) may possibly happen in the future.

Advantages

Despite their differences, both of the eye procedures have their own advantages. So in order for you to know what eye surgery to go for, here are some of their corresponding benefits that many Singapore patients and surgeons experienced before, during, and after the eye surgeries.

Epi-LASIK

• The strength and structure of cornea is preserved
• Lesser dry eye problems
• Lesser risk of flap complications
• No risk of flap dislodgement
• Lesser possible need for surgery enhancement

LASIK

• Less discomfort after surgery
• Quick recovery. Some Singapore patients regain functional vision a day after surgery.

Disadvantages

All things have their own down side as well. Both eye surgery techniques have their own set of flaws that every Singapore patient may or may not encounter. The disadvantages stated below are not there to discourage people who want to get their vision corrected, but to let you know of the possible results that you might experience after undergoing your chosen eye surgery.

Epi-LASIK

• Takes a couple of days to a week to regain functional vision
• Slightly more discomfort after the surgery

LASIK

• Frequent dry eye problems
• Cornea may not completely heal and regain its original strength
• High chances of flap complications and epithelial in-growth
• Greater chances of requiring surgical enhancement
• Some Singapore patients complain about thinning and bulging of cornea over time. Though Singapore surgeons do eye screening before proceeding with the surgery, it’s still difficult to predict which patients have the highest possibility of developing this complication.

Increase your art sales by working on your gallery’s name recognition and displaying your artworks at different venues aside from your own gallery. Host art gallery Singapore tours, raffles, open classes for the public to view your art pieces, and open houses with the artists to keep your name alive throughout the community. Here are some more ways to help people recognize you and increase your art gallery sales.

1. Increase name recognition

Have your works displayed at hotels, restaurants, art fairs, high-end retail stores, and other crowded areas in Singapore with well-to-do clients like what Vinciarts collection art gallery in Singapore has done to increasing branding. Look for venues and ask if you can bring some art pieces by and host an art exhibit in the art gallery location for their customers viewing. Offer your art exhibit to them as free of charge, since your still a novice and aims to increase name recognition in the community. Bring along with you brochures and business cards for interested clients. Talk to every person who seems interested in your works and give them a little overview and background info about the art and a brochure from your gallery.

2. Host a raffle

Raffle off an art piece that captivates the heart of many in the Singapore community. By this, they will be enticed to join the raffle. Apart from that, sell your tickets at an affordable price so all types of people, from lower to higher class would be able to afford to buy at least one. Host the event in your gallery by offering food and drinks for people to enjoy while viewing some of your masterpieces. Lastly, spread the news about the success of your art gallery event through websites, news organizations, and press releases to local newspapers and donate your raffle ticket funds to the cause.

3. Barter with other businesses

Pay services through artworks. As much as possible, minimize exchange of services through cash. For instance, if you’re throwing a Singapore event, trade one of your masterpieces to a wine bar, catering company, or local restaurant services. Try not to spend a single cent for food, advertising, or any form of event expenses. Have it all in exchange to your piece. Then, put the agreement into writing so that all terms and conditions are met.

4. Offer art classes

Invite interested art collectors and future artists into your gallery for an art class. Barter art pieces or pay nominal fee for a local artist to impart knowledge about drawing or molding clay to your art class. Ask the artist if he could supply all the materials needed by the class. Have your open class event published in newspapers and websites to invite more people in. Ask everyone in the class to sign a guest book, which you will be emailing and mailing for future advertisements.

5. Host an open house

Let everyone see your art pieces by hosting a Singapore open house event. Email or snail-mail those people on your guest lists, inviting them to join the open house event as VIP guests. Invite the community to come to your gallery through local art gallery publications, websites, and public advertising. Provide food and drinks for everyone to enjoy. Also, if you want more people to come to your event, invite a famous local artist for a meet-and-greet and display some of his works as well for public viewing.

Febrile convulsion often called febrile fit is a condition characterized by the rapid increase of body’s temperature or when the body experiences uncontrollable contraction of muscles. The usual victims are kids from six months to six years old but anyone can be a victim. The risk of acquiring febrile convulsion is high for children whose mother and/or father suffered the same condition when they were still young.

Symptoms include losing of consciousness followed by the stiffening of arms and legs or the body in general, blackout for a short period of time, drooling, sudden falling, teeth clenching, grunting, uncontrollable bladder and bowel and temporary stop in breathing among others. Now that we know the symptoms, it would be easier for us to identify if someone is having a fit. If someone is having a fit, we should do the following things:

Protect the person from injury

Since fits are characterized by sudden falling, it is important to prevent the fall to avoid any further injury. Keep them comfortable as much as possible by cushioning their head and loosening their clothing. If the child or infant is experiencing high fever, we should do our best to cool them. Victims are usually scared but it will help them get through this if they know we are on their side. We should not leave them until they are better.

Contact a medical professional

If the fit lasts for more than 2 to 5 minutes, it is time to seek a doctor or other medical professional. If we don’t know what to do, it is better to look for someone who can assist us while waiting for the medical professional.

What not to do during a fit

It is highly discouraged to put something between the teeth of the patient and restrain him/her.

 

We usually give gifts during special events but no one can stop us if we want to give something on ordinary days- that makes it sweeter actually. Giving gift is the most delightful gesture in the world. If you are torn which gift to give for a friend, special someone or a family member, it is useful to utilize this guide:

Think of something your friend, special someone or family member needs

Indeed the market offers different things that we can buy- some are cheap, some are expensive. Buying a gift requires brainstorming. There are many people that can find gifts that easily while there are others that need more time and thinking.

Gifts are usually appreciated if it symbolizes something. If you want to be remembered always, buy a gift that is useful and functional. For example, for men you can buy tie, socks, watches, ballpen, alarm clocks, shoes, wallet, handkerchief, etc. It sounds simple but they usually use these items so they will thank you for that. For women, you can consider beauty essentials, bags, purse, gift certificates to spa and massage, etc. For kids, shoes, toys, food and clothing are appreciated too.

You just need to probe what things that friend, special someone or family member needs.

Customizing the gift that will make that friend, special someone or family member feel important

If we have the time, we can start making something for that friend, special someone or family member. Sometimes the best gift we can give is a part of us. For example we can personally make a picture frame or a photo album. We are sure that there is only one in the world. It will make our friend, special someone or family member feel important and loved.

Vandalism refers to the malicious and deliberate destruction of someone else’s property without the written consent of the property owner. There are countries that put heavy emphasis on punishing the individual who committed vandalism. Singapore for instance is a country that is serious about vandalism. In fact, to show how serious they are, a local man was arrested last April 27, 2013 for vandalising the Cenotaph war memorial at the Esplanade Park on April 23, 2013. Mohammad Khalid Mohamad Yusop sprayed the monument with graffiti.

He was charged with one count of vandalism. Under Singapore’s Vandalism Act, the person behind the vandalism will:

Pay a fine

Upon his conviction, a penalty of up to S$2000 will be required from him.

Serve

The court can decide to send him to prison for not more than three years.

Caning

Caning is a legal corporal punishment for some countries. Corporal punishment is a physical punishment that includes deliberate infliction of pain (for retribution, disciplining, reforming and deterring unacceptable behaviours). Afghanistan, Malaysia, Taiwan and Singapore use this form of punishment.

In Singapore, caning varies depending on the circumstance. There are judicial, prison, reformatory, military, school and domestic/private. Judicial caning is brutal; it is set aside for criminals below 50 years old whose crimes fall under the Criminal Procedure Code. The milder form is used by some parents to punish their children. However there are some exemptions for caning that should be noted. Women, unhealthy men, old people (50 years above) and men with death sentence are exempted from this punishment.

In the case of Mohammad Khalid Mohamad Yusop, he can suffer three to eight strokes of rattan cane.

Burns are widespread. Some are less serious, some are very severe but regardless of the type, you should know how to deal with it. While waiting for help, it is a must that you “self medicate”; this could be the difference of scarring or not scarring. If you are medically trained, it is better but if you are not, it would be beneficial if you consider the following things:

Identify the degree

Be reminded that there are different types of burns. You should learn how to identify each type  or degree of burn. The first degree of burn is less serious and it does not necessarily need medical attention. It is generally characterized by light scalding, reddish and somewhat swollen. The second degree burn is often misinterpreted as a first degree so you should be cautious about it. When you see redness, swelling and you feel pain plus the skin looks blotchy, you have a second degree burn. The third degree burn is more serious and painful. If you were exposed to a hot object for a very long time, most likely you have third degree burns; this burn will cause bone, muscle and fat damage.

Treatments

If you have a minor burn, the first thing that you should do is put the affected area under running water for about 15 to 20 minutes. If you feel any burning sensation, you should continue the process. If running water is not available, you have to apply a cold compress. If there are no cold compress, you can use an ice pack. Remember not to apply the ice directly unto the burns because it can damage the skin. If the pain is still there, you should look for pain reliever. Ibuprofen or Naproxen will do. Treat the burn every hour by rinsing it with saline solution. However if it is serious, you should go to the emergency room right away.

If you want to know about Peranakan cultures, the best way to do so is by visiting the Peranakan Museum. A sister museum of the Asian Civilisations Mueum, the Peranakan Museum is the first in the world to exhibit the Peranakan cultures in Singapore, Malacca, Penang and neighboring Southeast Asian nations. Here’s what you need to know when you want to visit:

Galleries

There are ten galleries that exhibit Peranakan way of life. The building has three levels. The Level 1 Gallery 1 presents the beginnings of Peranakan culture. Level 2 Galleries present different wedding chamber and processions. Level 3 Galleries 6-10 present the Religion, Public Life, Food and Feasting of Peranakans.

Getting There

The Museum is at 39 Armenian Street. You can get there via taxi, car, train or bus. Taxi is the most convenient way. There is a paid parking area next to the Peranakan Museum. If you want to save money, you can try the train or bus. If you decide to ride the MRT, make sure to stop at City Hall or Bras Basah stations then walk from there. If you decide to take the bus, wait at the Singapore Management University bus stop and take either bus 7, 14, 16, 77, 106 or 11.

Admission

The good news is that the admissions are free to all locals and permanent residents. For adult tourists, S$6.00 is solicited for entry. For full time students or senior tourists, S$3.00 is solicited.

Operating Hours

The museum opens from 1pm to 7pm during Mondays. They open from 9am to 7pm during Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. They open from 9am to 9pm during Fridays.