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<p>GEORGE TOWN: As the warm towel is removed, you&#8217;re greeted by Ooi Poh Mei’s gentle fingers and a pair of black cotton buds mere millimetres away from your eyes.</p>
<p>The 33-year-old stays true to her roots, cleaning eyes and keeping her great-grandfather’s practice – which began over 100 years ago – alive.</p>
<p>As she removes dust from your peepers, you’re at ease and the itch is finally gone – but to passersby, it is quite a sight to behold: your eyes are spread wide open, bloodshot eyelids flipped to the sky.</p>
<p>Relaxing, terrifying and 100% eye-opening – locals and foreigners alike come to Hwang I Care in search of a renewed way to see the world.</p>
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		</style><div class="robo-gallery-wrap robo-gallery-wrap-id1864976 robo-gallery-" ><div id="rbs_gallery_68d3a53867838-block-loader" class="rbs_gallery_68d3a53867838Spinner"><div class="rbs_gallery_68d3a53867838Rect1"></div> <div class="rbs_gallery_68d3a53867838Rect2"></div> <div class="rbs_gallery_68d3a53867838Rect3"></div> <div class="rbs_gallery_68d3a53867838Rect4"></div> <div class="rbs_gallery_68d3a53867838Rect5"></div></div><div id="robo_gallery_main_block_rbs_gallery_68d3a53867838" class="robogallery-gallery-1864976" style="width:100%;margin:0 auto;  display: none;"><div id="rbs_gallery_68d3a53867838" data-options="rbs_gallery_68d3a53867838" style="width:100%;" class="robo_gallery  "><div class="rbs-img  category1864976 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="The Ooi family have been cleaning eyes and improving their customers&#039; vision for over a century." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-01.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 01"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-01.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 01" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">The Ooi family have been cleaning eyes and improving their customers' vision for over a century.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category1864976 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Although traditional eye cleaning may not be for everyone, those who swear by it visit monthly and have been coming for years." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-02.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 02"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-02.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 02" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Although traditional eye cleaning may not be for everyone, those who swear by it visit monthly and have been coming for years.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category1864976 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Ooi Poh Mei and her mother Koay Ah Sim, 52, run Hwang I Care.
" ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-03.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 03"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-03.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 03" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Ooi Poh Mei and her mother Koay Ah Sim, 52, run Hwang I Care.
</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category1864976 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Loyal customers swear by this practice and have been coming to Hwang I Care for years.
" ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-14.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 14"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-14.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 14" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Loyal customers swear by this practice and have been coming to Hwang I Care for years.
</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category1864976 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Poh Mei’s great-grandfather learnt the traditional eye-washing method in China before coming to Malaya." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-04.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 04"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-04.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 04" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Poh Mei’s great-grandfather learnt the traditional eye-washing method in China before coming to Malaya.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category1864976 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Her great-grandfather’s vintage reclining chairs are older than the country and follow the family wherever the shop moves." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-05.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 05"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-05.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 05" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Her great-grandfather’s vintage reclining chairs are older than the country and follow the family wherever the shop moves.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category1864976 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Poh Mei&#039;s late grandfather, Ah Joo, picked up the skill at age 15 from his own father and has frequently made headlines in local newspapers for his unique service." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-06.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 06"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-06.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 06" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Poh Mei's late grandfather, Ah Joo, picked up the skill at age 15 from his own father and has frequently made headlines in local newspapers for his unique service.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category1864976 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Poh Mei has been cleaning eyes since she was 16, and began working at the shop at age 18 after her grandfather passed away." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-07.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 07"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-07.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 07" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Poh Mei has been cleaning eyes since she was 16, and began working at the shop at age 18 after her grandfather passed away.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category1864976 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Although similar to the ink used in Chinese calligraphy, this ink is eye-friendly and is made entirely from Chinese medicine." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-08.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 08"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-08.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 08" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Although similar to the ink used in Chinese calligraphy, this ink is eye-friendly and is made entirely from Chinese medicine.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category1864976 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="The black ink tints the dust so it becomes visible and Poh Mei is able to wring it out easily." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-09.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 09"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-09.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 09" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">The black ink tints the dust so it becomes visible and Poh Mei is able to wring it out easily.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category1864976 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="She used to be fearful of the process, but now Poh Mei effortlessly cleans her own eyes and flips her eyelids back without flinching." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-10.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 10"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-10.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 10" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">She used to be fearful of the process, but now Poh Mei effortlessly cleans her own eyes and flips her eyelids back without flinching.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category1864976 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="An irritable strand of dust leaving a customer’s eyelid." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-11.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 11"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-11.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 11" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">An irritable strand of dust leaving a customer’s eyelid.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category1864976 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Customers who spend more time in the kitchen tend to have oilier eyes. Tiny pools of oil can be seen forming on the surface of the water." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-13.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 13"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-13.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 13" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Customers who spend more time in the kitchen tend to have oilier eyes. Tiny pools of oil can be seen forming on the surface of the water.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category1864976 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="The trapped eye dust becomes visible as strands and particles reach the glass of water." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-12.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 12"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chinese-eye-cleaning-parlour-12.jpg"  title="Chinese eye-cleaning parlour 12" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">The trapped eye dust becomes visible as strands and particles reach the glass of water.</div></div></div></div></div><script>var rbs_gallery_68d3a53867838 = {"version":"3.2.1","id":1864976,"class":"id1864976","roboGalleryDelay":1000,"mainContainer":"#robo_gallery_main_block_rbs_gallery_68d3a53867838","loadingContainer":"#rbs_gallery_68d3a53867838-block-loader","loadingContainerObj":"rbs_gallery_68d3a53867838-block-loader","columnWidth":"auto","columns":1,"resolutions":[{"columnWidth":"auto","columns":1,"maxWidth":960},{"columnWidth":"auto","columns":1,"maxWidth":650},{"columnWidth":"auto","columns":1,"maxWidth":450}],"descBox":true,"descBoxClass":"rbs_desc_panel_dark","lightboxOptions":{"gallery":{"enabled":true,"tCounter":"%curr% of %total%"}},"facebook":true,"twitter":true,"pinterest":true,"vk":true,"overlayEffect":"direction-aware-fade","boxesToLoadStart":12,"boxesToLoad":8,"waitUntilThumbLoads":1,"LoadingWord":"Loading...","loadMoreWord":"Load More","noMoreEntriesWord":"No More Entries","horizontalSpaceBetweenBoxes":15,"verticalSpaceBetweenBoxes":15,"lazyLoad":1,"wrapContainer":"#robo-gallery-wrap-rbs_gallery_68d3a53867838","filterContainer":"#rbs_gallery_68d3a53867838filter","loadMoreClass":"button-flat-primary button-large "};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://cms.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/robo-gallery/js/robo_gallery_alt.js"></script><link id="gallery" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://cms.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/robo-gallery/css/gallery.css"><link id="font" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://cms.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/robo-gallery/css/gallery.font.css">
<p><em><strong>FMT does not endorse the efficacy of this service and encourages readers to visit an optometrist for routine eye care or an ophthalmologist for medical and surgical treatment of serious eye conditions. </strong></em></p>


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Eye-opening experience at century-old ‘cleaning’ business

Visit the only traditional Chinese eye-cleaning parlour in Penang, but be warned: it's not for the squeamish.

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