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S'porean actor Elvin Ng, 45, undergoes eye surgery after noticing shadow in his right eye
If not treated early, the condition may lead to partial or complete permanent loss of vision.
February 25, 2026, 10:45 AM
Mediacorp actor Elvin Ng has revealed that he recently underwent an eye surgery after experiencing symptoms that could have led to permanent vision loss.
In an Instagram post on Feb. 24, the 45-year-old shared that he had undergone a retinal detachment surgery on his right eye that evening.
He described it as a “very urgent and major operation”, explaining that doctors had to act quickly before fluid accumulation reached the centre of the eye — a condition that could have resulted in permanent blindness.
Ng said he chose to speak publicly about the experience to raise awareness, urging others to seek immediate medical attention should they encounter similar symptoms.
Circular shadow in his right eye
According to the actor, he first noticed a dark circular shadow in the bottom corner of his right eye between 3am and 6am.
The shadow remained in the same position even when he moved his eye.
Ng added that he turned to ChatGPT for the first time to check his symptoms and was told that the condition could be serious.
Despite this, he admitted he had gone back to sleep before eventually heading for a medical check-up at noon.
Once doctors confirmed the diagnosis, Ng’s surgery was scheduled for 6:30pm the same day.
He then joked that he had to fast for six hours before the procedure as he had eaten two pieces of bak kwa shortly before his check-up.
By evening, the shadow had expanded to cover nearly half his eye and was approaching the centre, making swift medical intervention critical.
The day's events unfolded "in a whirlwind", Ng said.
He also expressed gratitude to his doctor and surgeon at Eagle Eye Centre, adding that the operation was successful and his recovery is progressing well so far.
Ng said he will share further updates on his condition, noting that recovery will require time and patience.
He also thanked fans for their concern and well wishes, reassuring them that he is "doing fine and on the road to recovery."
What is retinal detachment?
According to SingHealth's website, retinal detachment occurs when the retina separates from the outer layers of the eye.
The retina, which is located at the back of the eye, is responsible for detecting light and forming visual images.
If not treated early, the condition may lead to partial or complete permanent loss of vision.
Top photos from @elvinngchoonsiong/Instagram
