CHAU Yuen-lam || BSc (Hons) Optometry || Tianjin Optometric Hospital

Despite having a previous clinical placement, Chau Yuen-lam enjoyed a fresh and memorable internship at the Tianjin Optometric Hospital last summer.

The third-year Optometry student was appointed to different departments to observe various services of the optometric hospital in Tianjin. Among all her duties during the placement, her participation in several eye surgeries was the most inspirational.

“I had never observed live eye surgery such as on drooping upper eyelids, cataracts and glaucoma,” she says. “Although lecturers have gone through all these surgeries in class, first-hand observation was indeed unforgettable and beneficial. I now have a deeper understanding of the subject and learned things that have not been taught in lectures. I am now more confident in explaining the surgery procedure to patients.” Yuen-lam, who mainly delivered primary eye-care checkup during her previous placement in Hong Kong, gained a different and vivid working experience in the mainland city.

“In Tianjin, I was placed in the clinical examination room to assist vision examination. Also, I worked in the outpatient clinic where I could help patients with different ocular diseases and observed how the doctors handled each patient,” she says. Yuen-lam also helped check the refraction of patients and examine the anterior ocular health of patients suffering serious cataracts and glaucoma.

The pursuit of professional standards

Through the internship, Yuen-lam has identified some of her weaknesses and is resolved to make improvements. “I realised that I was not knowledgeable enough. I will work for more knowledge of the optometry profession,” she says.

She was surprised by the awareness of eye-care of Tianjin people. “They have a clear concept about the notation of vision grading. For example, they know that vision 1.0 indicates normal vision. Most Hong Kong people have no idea about that,” she says.

Influenced by her internship experience, Yuen-lam is more determined to be a good optometrist and aspires to promote vision health and services. “I met a poor seven-year-old girl who had congenital hemangioma and thus the vision of her eye was affected seriously. The needy patients have aroused my passion to be a good optometrist. It is a meaningful job and I want to promote vision health among the public,” Yuen-lam says.