Elvin Ng's Retinal Detachment: What High Myopes in Singapore Should Know

Medically reviewed by Dr Paul Zhao, MMed (Ophth), FRCS (Ed), FAMS — Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist and Vitreoretinal Surgeon, Eagle Eye Centre, Singapore

In February 2026, Mediacorp actor Elvin Ng shared on Instagram that he had been diagnosed with a retinal detachment after noticing "a dark circular shadow at the bottom corner of my right eye." He was seen and treated urgently. CNA Lifestyle later spoke to me about the case for a feature on retinal detachment and myopia — you can read the full CNA article here and his experience which he shared on Instagram here.

I'm sharing this not to discuss the specifics of any patient's care beyond what has already been made public, but because his experience is a useful, real example of a condition I see regularly in my practice, and one that many people with short-sightedness (myopia) don't know they're at higher risk of.

Why myopia raises the risk

If you're short-sighted, your eyeball is slightly longer than average. This stretching thins the retina — the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye — making it more prone to small tears. Left untreated, a tear can progress to a full retinal detachment, which is a sight-threatening emergency.

The higher your degree of myopia, the higher the risk. This is one of the reasons I encourage patients with high myopia (roughly -6.00 diopters or more) to know the warning signs and not dismiss sudden visual changes as "just eye strain."

The warning signs to know

Retinal detachment is painless, which is exactly why the visual symptoms matter so much:

• A sudden shower of floaters (small dots, cobwebs, or specks drifting in your vision)

• Flashes of light, often in your peripheral vision

• A dark shadow or curtain spreading across part of your vision

• Sudden or rapid blurring or distortion of vision

Any one of these — especially a shadow or curtain — warrants urgent same-day assessment by a retina specialist. This is not a "wait and see how it looks tomorrow" situation.

What happens if you're diagnosed

Treatment depends on the type, size, and location of the retinal tear or detachment, but may include:

• Vitrectomy — microsurgery to remove the vitreous gel and reattach the retina, often with a gas bubble to hold it in place while it heals

• Scleral buckling — a silicone band placed around the outside of the eye to relieve traction on the retina

• Pneumatic retinopexy — a gas bubble injected into the eye to push the retina back into place

• Laser or cryotherapy — used to seal retinal tears before they progress to a full detachment

The earlier a detachment is treated, the better the visual outcome tends to be — particularly if the central retina (macula) hasn't yet detached.

If you have high myopia, here's what I'd suggest

• Get a dilated retinal exam at least once, even if you have no symptoms, to check for areas of thinning or existing tears

• Know the warning signs above and treat any of them as urgent

• Avoid rubbing your eyes vigorously, and take care during high-impact activity

• Don't delay — a same-day assessment can be the difference between a straightforward repair and a more complex one

• 
  

If you're experiencing any of the symptoms above, please seek urgent assessment. You can reach our clinic on the emergency line at +65 9066 8811, or book a consultation here.

This article is for general educational purposes and does not replace personalised medical advice. If you have symptoms of a retinal detachment, seek urgent in-person assessment.