HAPPY DUMPLING FESTIVAL FOLKS!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
My Journey as an Optometrist
When I first graduated with my Optometry degree, there was a wave of optimism in my mind that I would be helping a lot of people with their eyes. However, this was stunted to a certain extent when I started working in UK with an optical chain outlet. It dawned on me that working as an Optometrist in a commercial setting is way different to working in a hospital setting. While you still more or less provide most of the optometric services that you have learnt in University, you are also obligated to work on the economics of the field and consider monetary needs of your employer. As a result, some sort of clinical cannibalism had to be done. An eye test that would normally take 30 - 40 minutes to complete had to be done in less then 15 minutes. I then learnt that I need to be more cohesive in my routine and be more picky on the routine that I should do and not do for the benefit of my patients and even if I do pick up an abnormality, I won't have the luxury of further diagnosis but to refer the patient on to the Hospital for further investigation. Working in the hospital however was absolutely more satisfying for the Optometrist in me, since you are exposed to more clinical practices (albeit at lower remuneration). I was thankful for that short stint that I had at the hospital as I managed to sample the experience of working in both a commercial and clinical setting in the UK.
With high hopes, I returned to Malaysia to start my private practice in Optometry. My first few month totally shattered me. I knew that by returning to Malaysia, I would have to take things slow as setting up a full optometric service opticians would cost a lot of money and would have to be done in phases. However, what I could not take was the total lacking of public awareness of what an Optometrist does. The general public had no idea what an Optometrist was and what we could offer to them as compared to the grandfather optician or qualified opticians in the field. Most treat an optical outlet like buying a pair of shoes, they only come in expecting a pair of glasses and nothing else. Even the big chains do not offer much primary eye care services but are totally retail orientated (even till now). Some of my patient didn't even know that there is a need to take up a degree course to become an Optometrist. While some even thought that you do not need a qualification to test eyes.
For the first few years of practice I had been scolded many times by my patients when I informed them of probable eye disease that they may have. The reaction that was given to me was always the same that is I am not a doctor and have no right telling them they have any eye condition and that they only wanted me to provide them with a pair of glasses and nothing else. Of course on every case I bit the bullet and insisted that further examination should be done before any glasses could be dispensed. Most times I would be reprimanded severely and with the patient walking out of my practice in fume.
8 years on, I persevered, adding more diagnostic equipment along the way. I would say that I am a machine or two away from my ideal optometric setting. Of course, the perception of the general public towards Optometrist are starting to catch up as well. One of the major challenges that I constantly face is a psychological war that I have with myself, one part of me tells me it is economically not sound to invest in diagnostic machinery that you could hardly charge since the public are still much ignorant about what we can do and of course the only way to convince them would be to give them full service at nominal or no charge, the optometrist side of me tells me to push for it since its what an optometrist should do. Of course the optometrist side of me wins at most times but of course the economics side of me dictates the pace of upgrading.
Did I regret coming back to Malaysia to practice? No, because I believe that what i do here means more to the patients that I see now (even if they may not realise it) then back in UK in which the patients already expect such services in the first place.
Although full Optometric facilities in a private practice setting is hardly to be seen in abundance in Malaysia, I am hopeful that one day it would be THE norm.
I for one is almost getting there....
With high hopes, I returned to Malaysia to start my private practice in Optometry. My first few month totally shattered me. I knew that by returning to Malaysia, I would have to take things slow as setting up a full optometric service opticians would cost a lot of money and would have to be done in phases. However, what I could not take was the total lacking of public awareness of what an Optometrist does. The general public had no idea what an Optometrist was and what we could offer to them as compared to the grandfather optician or qualified opticians in the field. Most treat an optical outlet like buying a pair of shoes, they only come in expecting a pair of glasses and nothing else. Even the big chains do not offer much primary eye care services but are totally retail orientated (even till now). Some of my patient didn't even know that there is a need to take up a degree course to become an Optometrist. While some even thought that you do not need a qualification to test eyes.
For the first few years of practice I had been scolded many times by my patients when I informed them of probable eye disease that they may have. The reaction that was given to me was always the same that is I am not a doctor and have no right telling them they have any eye condition and that they only wanted me to provide them with a pair of glasses and nothing else. Of course on every case I bit the bullet and insisted that further examination should be done before any glasses could be dispensed. Most times I would be reprimanded severely and with the patient walking out of my practice in fume.
8 years on, I persevered, adding more diagnostic equipment along the way. I would say that I am a machine or two away from my ideal optometric setting. Of course, the perception of the general public towards Optometrist are starting to catch up as well. One of the major challenges that I constantly face is a psychological war that I have with myself, one part of me tells me it is economically not sound to invest in diagnostic machinery that you could hardly charge since the public are still much ignorant about what we can do and of course the only way to convince them would be to give them full service at nominal or no charge, the optometrist side of me tells me to push for it since its what an optometrist should do. Of course the optometrist side of me wins at most times but of course the economics side of me dictates the pace of upgrading.
Did I regret coming back to Malaysia to practice? No, because I believe that what i do here means more to the patients that I see now (even if they may not realise it) then back in UK in which the patients already expect such services in the first place.
Although full Optometric facilities in a private practice setting is hardly to be seen in abundance in Malaysia, I am hopeful that one day it would be THE norm.
I for one is almost getting there....
Friday, March 16, 2012
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Carl Zeiss PhotoFusion : The new self-tinting lens by Zeiss
Carl Zeiss will be launching the new self-tinting lens dubbed PhotoFusion soon in Malaysia.
It is claimed that the lens react 20% faster and fade up to 2x faster then current photochromic lenses currently under its belt.
According to documentation, PhotoFusion lenses are very clear (92%), while outside in the sunshine the lenses turn very dark (11%).
Here's a video on the product by Carl Zeiss
PhotoFusion is available in all Carl Zeiss Single Vision and also Progressive lens range.
Although not launched yet, it is currently being sold at all Carl Zeiss Specialist outlet throughout Malaysia.
Check them out now~!
It is claimed that the lens react 20% faster and fade up to 2x faster then current photochromic lenses currently under its belt.
According to documentation, PhotoFusion lenses are very clear (92%), while outside in the sunshine the lenses turn very dark (11%).
Here's a video on the product by Carl Zeiss
PhotoFusion is available in all Carl Zeiss Single Vision and also Progressive lens range.
Although not launched yet, it is currently being sold at all Carl Zeiss Specialist outlet throughout Malaysia.
Check them out now~!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
PLUS Highway Speed Trap
Was made aware of this by the Wifey in regards to speed traps on the highway.
So just to share it out for those frequent travellers out there.
So just to share it out for those frequent travellers out there.
PLUS North Bound (ke Utara)
*Under a bridge at about 456km, Sg Buloh junction.
*Under a bridge at about 459km, Bukit Lanjan interchange.
*Under the overhead restaurant at Sg Buloh.
*Under the last bridge before Sg Besi toll at 309.2km.
*Under the bridge at 296.5km, Bangi junction.
*Under the newly constructed bridge at 289.0km, after Nilai North junction.
*Under the bridge at 286.5km, Nilai North junction.
PLUS South Bound (ke Selatan)
*Below signboard at about 454.6km and 455.2km, Sg Buloh layby.
*Under the bridge after Subang junction at 11.3km.
*Under the bridge at 22km, Bukit Lanjan junction.
*Under the bridge before Mint hotel, Sg Besi Toll. 80km/h only!
*Under the bridge at 302.8km, Kajang junction.
*About 1km south of Bangi junction, both south and north bound outer lanes
*At 296.5km and 297km, Bangi junction.
*Under the newly constructed bridge at 289.0km, before Nilai North junction.
*At 285.5km and 285.8km, Nilai North junction.
*On center divider at 251.8km and 253km after Senawang junction.
*After Alor Gajah junction at 213.9km, next to water theme park.
*Behind the right hand crash barrier at 198.4km.
Elite Central Link East/North Bound
*On left hand side at 4.8km after Batu Tiga/Shah Alam exit
*Under the overhead restaurant at USJ/Hicom junction about 8.5km. 90km/h zone!
*Below the bridge before USJ/Hicom junction at 10.5km.
Elite Central Link West/South Bound
*Under the overhead restaurant at USJ/Hicom junction about 8.5km. 90km/h zone!
*Below the bridge before USJ/Hicom junction at 10.5km.
*After exit from KLIA toll to the airport, below Jalan Pekeliling flyover.90km/h
NKVE East/North Bound
*300m before Jalan Duta toll, 60km/h!
*Behind crash barrier on the left when going towards Jalan Duta toll, at 24.9km, 80km/h!
*Below bridge at Damansara Junction, 17.5km
NKVE West/South Bound
*Behind crash barrier on the left when leaving Jalan Duta toll from KL, at 25.3km and 25.7km, 80km/h!
*From Jln Duta, below the bridge, 23km, 80km/h zone!
*From Jln Duta, at the underpass at Sg Buloh Y-junction, 22km.
*Behind crash barrier at Damansara Junction, 17.7km and 16.8km
*Below railway bridge at 11.2km
*Under the bridge at Shah Alam junction.
Kesas East Bound
*Under the bridge at 44.8km, downhill run after Puchong junction.
Kesas West Bound
*At Sg Besi side of East Bound Toll. Kuala LumpurCity
*Jalan Duta; below the flyover at the Damansara junction, 70km/h zone.
Klang
*Dual carriageway between Klang and Port Klang. Towards Klang direction, at about 13km mile stone. 70km/h only!
East Coast
*Road sign at Karak highway is inadequate especially at Y junction; if you are unfamilar, go slow.
*East bound, downhill run after Raub junction.
*Maran, 60km/h zone.
*Paya Bungor, 70km/h zone.
SPEED TRAPS IN JOHOR
South Bound
*Tangkak junction.
*Under the bridge after Yong Peng
North junction
*at 97.3km.
*Ayer Hitam junction.
*Sedenak junction.
SPEED TRAPS IN PERLIS, KEDAH AND PENANG
North Bound
*Around Ayer Hitam in 60km/h zone.
*Before Perwaja Steel.
*Sg Petani junction.
*Between Seberang Jaya junction and Sg Dua Toll.
*PenangBridge at island end. Speed limit 80km/h.
South Bound
*Penang Bridge Island end. Speed limit 80km/h.
*About 2km before Juru Toll Speed limit 90km/h.
SPEED TRAPS IN PERAK
North Bound
*Under the bridge at 197.1km and 198.8km, after Kamunting Junction.
*Under the bridge at 204.3km, after Kamunting Junction.
*Under the bridge at 208km, before Kamunting Junction.
*Under the bridge at 214.8km, before Kamunting Junction.
*Ipoh Vista Point at about 263km. Speed limit 80km/h.
*Under the bridge at 271km, Ipoh North Junction.
*Under the bridge at 274.4km, Ipoh South Junction.
*Under the bridge at 286.9km, Simpang Pulai Junction.
*Under the bridge at 296km, Gopeng Junction.
*Under the bridge at 352.6km, after Sungkai Junction.
*Under the bridge at 353km, Sungkai Junction.
*Under the bridge at 373km, Slim River Junction.
South Bound
*Under the bridge at 199km, before Kamunting junction.
*Under the bridge at 241.9km, at Kalau Kangsar junction.
*Under the sign post at 296.1km, before Gopeng junction.
*Under the bridge at 297km, at Gopeng junction.
*Under the bridge at 300km, after Gopeng junction.
*Under the bridge at 308.6km, after Gopeng junction.
*Under the bridge at 372.6km, at Slim River junction.
Monday, September 12, 2011
A tale of 6%
6% : a very familiar figure when receiving bills be it astro, dining out, tm bill and the rest. Most of us don't like it but like any law abiding citizen, we are obligated to pay the service tax that is imposed by our Malaysian government upon every end user in the country.
So when the news that telco companies have decided to impose the same tax on prepaid users, there was of course a major uproar to it. For many years, in the name of competition, the telco's have absorbed this cost and have not charged the end user.
Is it wrong to pass the buck back to the end user now?
While thinking about this, do take note that post paid users have always been paying the service tax from long ago and even your tm landline has 6% imposed on the bill.
My personal opinion would be. WHY NOT?
Honestly speaking, as much as I don't like the imposed tax, we should not also deprived others of what is due to them. Of course one may say that this are huge corporate giants and making them richer at the extend of the poor is not right. However, using this philosophy only on the telco's are absurd. If that is the real case then the 6% tax should be abolished all together by all mega companies like Astro, TM, TNB and the likes. Just because the telco did not charge the 6% do not mean that it is our right to demand for it not to be charged in the future.
We are all spoilt brats blaming the company for it.
Instead, if indeed this is going to be a big issue, we should at least point our fingers at the government which imposed this tax upon us in the first place. Get them to waiver the 6% altogether. But wait, doing this would probably make the government bankrupt and we would then turn into another Greece. This is really a chicken and egg dilemma. On one hand the rakyat is feeling the heat from stagnating pay and inflationary pressures, the telco's also find themselves with deprived revenue for probable expansion to their business. This are all honest companies that have indeed provided us with good value. We have never had rates this cheap for our mobile usage ever and I am sure rates will only get better in the future.
I definitely think it's not right for the government to put their feet into telco's business measures. They didn't do anything when announced their rate hike, they shouldn't do anything now either. The government should instead plan austerity measures to help the rakyat in this lean times.
Stop the rot from it's roots.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
So when the news that telco companies have decided to impose the same tax on prepaid users, there was of course a major uproar to it. For many years, in the name of competition, the telco's have absorbed this cost and have not charged the end user.
Is it wrong to pass the buck back to the end user now?
While thinking about this, do take note that post paid users have always been paying the service tax from long ago and even your tm landline has 6% imposed on the bill.
My personal opinion would be. WHY NOT?
Honestly speaking, as much as I don't like the imposed tax, we should not also deprived others of what is due to them. Of course one may say that this are huge corporate giants and making them richer at the extend of the poor is not right. However, using this philosophy only on the telco's are absurd. If that is the real case then the 6% tax should be abolished all together by all mega companies like Astro, TM, TNB and the likes. Just because the telco did not charge the 6% do not mean that it is our right to demand for it not to be charged in the future.
We are all spoilt brats blaming the company for it.
Instead, if indeed this is going to be a big issue, we should at least point our fingers at the government which imposed this tax upon us in the first place. Get them to waiver the 6% altogether. But wait, doing this would probably make the government bankrupt and we would then turn into another Greece. This is really a chicken and egg dilemma. On one hand the rakyat is feeling the heat from stagnating pay and inflationary pressures, the telco's also find themselves with deprived revenue for probable expansion to their business. This are all honest companies that have indeed provided us with good value. We have never had rates this cheap for our mobile usage ever and I am sure rates will only get better in the future.
I definitely think it's not right for the government to put their feet into telco's business measures. They didn't do anything when announced their rate hike, they shouldn't do anything now either. The government should instead plan austerity measures to help the rakyat in this lean times.
Stop the rot from it's roots.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:At the office
Monday, August 22, 2011
Fakes at Pavilion?
While having our mid morning coffee, my sister in law was relating to me a story that her sister told her not too long ago.
Apparently, one of her sisters patient is convinced that The Pavilion, famed with Prada's, Gucci's and many more exclusive designer brands are also selling fakes at premium prices.
The story started when the husband bought an LV bag for this lady.
One day the lady went to Paris for a holiday. And with Paris, one would not escape the chance of browsing at the famed Louis Vuitton outlet at Champ Élysées. As she entered the outlet, to her horror, one of the LV staff cut her LV bag strap with a scissors. Of course the lady threw out a fit seeing the lovely LV that was given to her by her loving hubby vandalized. However, the staff in the outlet was firm and told her that the LV bag that she was carrying was a fake. Of course she brought up the fact that the bag was indeed purchased at a genuine LV outlet in Malaysia. Nevertheless, the sales representative cared no word of hers and insisted that it was a fake. And this is not even coming from the branch manager in Paris but from the front desk sales representative. She was then later advices to go back to the LV outlet in Malaysia to seek an explanation if indeed it was bought there.
Of course all this while I would believe that the lady would have really felt small and humiliated as none of the working staff truly believed that she bought the bag from a legitimate LV outlet.
Hence, the moment she came back to Malaysia, the lady stormed into LV, at Pavilion and asked for an explanation. Lo and behold, the branch outlet instantly identified the product as a fake and simply gave an explanation that the fake could be due to an inside job. She was then asked to pick any bag in the outlet as compensation. (wait a minute here, you mean the manager can identify the bag so easily? If that's the case then what guarantee that any of the LV in the outlets are original in the first place?).
We did not dwell on the nitty gritty details that happened after that as we progressed through our conversation that morning.
If I were the lady, I would write a letter to the management of the company, cc them to the domestic trade and consume department, the consumer tribunal, the consumer association and any other related department that I can think off. Hell, I think I may even want to cc it to the prime ministers department!
If it is indeed true that even Pavilion outlets are selling fakes then non of us consumers are safe.
Good thing I buy most of my day to day needs at Jusco...........
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Apparently, one of her sisters patient is convinced that The Pavilion, famed with Prada's, Gucci's and many more exclusive designer brands are also selling fakes at premium prices.
The story started when the husband bought an LV bag for this lady.
One day the lady went to Paris for a holiday. And with Paris, one would not escape the chance of browsing at the famed Louis Vuitton outlet at Champ Élysées. As she entered the outlet, to her horror, one of the LV staff cut her LV bag strap with a scissors. Of course the lady threw out a fit seeing the lovely LV that was given to her by her loving hubby vandalized. However, the staff in the outlet was firm and told her that the LV bag that she was carrying was a fake. Of course she brought up the fact that the bag was indeed purchased at a genuine LV outlet in Malaysia. Nevertheless, the sales representative cared no word of hers and insisted that it was a fake. And this is not even coming from the branch manager in Paris but from the front desk sales representative. She was then later advices to go back to the LV outlet in Malaysia to seek an explanation if indeed it was bought there.
Of course all this while I would believe that the lady would have really felt small and humiliated as none of the working staff truly believed that she bought the bag from a legitimate LV outlet.
Hence, the moment she came back to Malaysia, the lady stormed into LV, at Pavilion and asked for an explanation. Lo and behold, the branch outlet instantly identified the product as a fake and simply gave an explanation that the fake could be due to an inside job. She was then asked to pick any bag in the outlet as compensation. (wait a minute here, you mean the manager can identify the bag so easily? If that's the case then what guarantee that any of the LV in the outlets are original in the first place?).
We did not dwell on the nitty gritty details that happened after that as we progressed through our conversation that morning.
If I were the lady, I would write a letter to the management of the company, cc them to the domestic trade and consume department, the consumer tribunal, the consumer association and any other related department that I can think off. Hell, I think I may even want to cc it to the prime ministers department!
If it is indeed true that even Pavilion outlets are selling fakes then non of us consumers are safe.
Good thing I buy most of my day to day needs at Jusco...........
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Pasar Malam Contact Lenses : Geo Lens and the likes of it
Recently I am sure many of you have observed the sudden mushrooming of colour and big eye contact lens stalls as we have our nightly stroll along our local pasar malam spots. You will see brands ranging from Geo lens, kinky eyes and much more fancy names associated with it.
This products are mainly bought by secondary school kids that for reason only known to puberty, grab them at the cheap. From my last visit, they are sold at a meager price of RM15 a pair. A big bottle of contact lens solution is more expensive then that!
Then there was this situation I bumped into while I was doing some shopping at Watson's. There is this group of about half a dozen secondary school girls, all clad in skimpy and tight fitting jeans or miniskirts browsing the contact lens solution area. Out of the group, I heard this girl teaching her friend on what product to buy and what not. To my amazement she told them to buy saline to wash their contact lens and not the standard multi purpose solution! The tone of her authority towards those kids could only be described as pure mistress like. I was telling myself, this is really a time bomb waiting to happen. On the way home, I regretted not voicing out towards the young kids on their misgivings.
This is but a small example of a malignant problem in society. Deep inside, I do not feel that authorities will do anything on the illegal sales of contact lens by non professionals in our country so I won't even try to shout about it. Probably the only thing that would turn this around would be a couple dozen of poor kids blinded by such contact lens sales and with the media blazing the news in force.
To those that understand Cantonese, I will leave this YouTube link regarding problems arising from cheap colored contact lens sales in hong kong for you to ponder upon.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
This products are mainly bought by secondary school kids that for reason only known to puberty, grab them at the cheap. From my last visit, they are sold at a meager price of RM15 a pair. A big bottle of contact lens solution is more expensive then that!
Then there was this situation I bumped into while I was doing some shopping at Watson's. There is this group of about half a dozen secondary school girls, all clad in skimpy and tight fitting jeans or miniskirts browsing the contact lens solution area. Out of the group, I heard this girl teaching her friend on what product to buy and what not. To my amazement she told them to buy saline to wash their contact lens and not the standard multi purpose solution! The tone of her authority towards those kids could only be described as pure mistress like. I was telling myself, this is really a time bomb waiting to happen. On the way home, I regretted not voicing out towards the young kids on their misgivings.
This is but a small example of a malignant problem in society. Deep inside, I do not feel that authorities will do anything on the illegal sales of contact lens by non professionals in our country so I won't even try to shout about it. Probably the only thing that would turn this around would be a couple dozen of poor kids blinded by such contact lens sales and with the media blazing the news in force.
To those that understand Cantonese, I will leave this YouTube link regarding problems arising from cheap colored contact lens sales in hong kong for you to ponder upon.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)