‘I could have lost my sight’: Actor Richard Low, 73, on his scary brush with shingles

Fellow OG Gang members Chen Shucheng and Zhu Houren also hope to raise awareness about the virus. Read more at straitstimes.com.

SINGAPORE – A tiny red dot on his left eyelid nearly cost veteran local actor Richard Low his eyesight.

In 2013, the 73-year-old recalled that he first noticed the small spot while washing his face. Assuming it was an insect bite, he paid little attention to it.

But the following day, it grew larger. As he was about to go on a holiday to Guangzhou, China, Low decided to see a doctor, who gave him the green light to proceed with his trip.

“The red spot soon became a rash and started to spread upwards to my forehead,” said Low, who immediately went to a hospital in Guangzhou, where he was diagnosed with shingles.

He was sharing his brush with the viral infection with The Straits Times on March 7 at DS Connect #1. The event, organised by non-profit organisation Diabetes Singapore and healthcare company GSK, was held in conjunction with Shingles Action Week 2026, which aims to raise awareness about the risks of shingles, especially among adults over 50.

Low was joined by fellow actors Chen Shucheng and Zhu Houren, who are collectively known as the OG Gang on social media.