Dr Claudine Pang might be one of Singapore's most experienced cataract and vitreoretinal surgeons, but on the day we meet her, she has another, emerging field on her mind: The science of longevity.
Over lunch and a cappuccino at a café at Paragon, where her clinic Asia Retina Eye Surgery Centre is located, the doctor muses, "In Western medicine, we treat diseases, but with longevity, it's about trying to slow down cellular ageing. With science now, we're able to prolong life. But longevity is about having more healthy years towards the end of life, so that you don't develop comorbidities. It's about ageing in a healthy way."
It might seem like a bit of a stretch for an ophthalmologist, even one as accomplished as Claudine: In over 20 years in practice, she has carried out thousands of cataract and retinal surgeries. She was also the first woman in the world to be awarded the highly coveted William H. Ross Surgical Vitreoretinal Fellowship at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. According to Claudine, however, the eyes aren't just the windows to the soul - they can be the windows to our overall health as well.
She explains, "The eyes are very connected to the rest of the body. For example, when I look at someone's eyes, I can tell if they have, say, conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, anaemia, or high cholesterol. You can tell a lot of these things from the eyes, so we need to understand the whole body as well."
FIRST MOVER
Not that Claudine has ever limited herself to focusing on just the field of ophthalmology. Last year, she opened her second clinic, Asia Wellness Medical Centre, also at Paragon.
The clinic focuses on aesthetics and wellness. Speaking to Prestige last year, she had shared that she "had taken the time to upgrade myself with the relevant qualifications" when things slowed down at her eye clinic during the pandemic.
This story is from the April 2024 edition of Prestige Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2024 edition of Prestige Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Power To The People
Boucheron creative director Claire Choisne's latest high-jewellery creations are stylish statements of authority and achievement.
Walking into the Blue
Dive into luxury at Depth of Blue, Johnnie Walker Blue Label's first flagship bar in Southeast Asia. Dive into luxury at Depth of Blue, Johnnie Walker Blue Label's first flagship bar in Southeast Asia.
IN THE FLOW
For ANDRÉ FU, travel isn't so much a means of inspiration as it is a way to detach from everyday life to approach his work from fresh perspectives.
CHIC VOLUMES
Impractically oversized but utterly beautiful tomes featuring an eclectic subject, coffee table books serve to kick-start conversations in addition to being subtle avenues of sophisticated self-expression. Here are six titles to consider having on your living room table.
VICTOR OVER TIME
35 years after they broke convention as renegade art students, Phillip Lim catches up with eminent artist SUZANN VICTOR to reminisce about past escapades and how far the artist has come.
Circle of Friends
A Singapore family that has set up a second home in remote Kenya shares their connection with the local communities with guests of their lodge.
VIVE LA WEAVE
Chanel's latest high jewellery collection celebrates the innovation that put her squarely in the pantheon of legendary fashion designers.
VIEW BEYOND THE RACES
For Richard Mille, life in the fast lane is more than just performance-driven machines, it's a profound appreciation for excellence in various forms.
OFF TO THE FAIR
Watch clients are increasingly dropping into Watches and Wonders, a trade fair meant for retailers and media personnel. Here's why.
STEP LIVELY
In the original design of Hermès' Mon Premier Galop shawl by Chinese artist Tong Ren, a horse with an awkward yet happy gait is depicted in simple lines, colour blocks, and decorative-trimming inspired by traditional basketry.
