PolyU’s AI and medicine-engineering integration empowers a new era of medical excellence

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to harnessing medicine-engineering integration and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare to drive innovations and translation of research outcomes into real-world solutions. These efforts support the development of precision medicine, preventive medicine, and primary healthcare, thereby enhancing the quality and efficiency of healthcare services in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA), while also contributing to Hong Kong’s development into an international health and medical innovation hub. PolyU has established a strong foundation in medical and health research, supported by key infrastructure, including seven relevant research institutes and centres under the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research, 19 university-level research institutes and centres, and four University Research Facilities. By integrating expertise from engineering, medicine, and public health, these facilities drive the development of innovative solutions to advance healthcare in Hong Kong and beyond. A team led by Prof. HE Mingguang, Director of the PolyU-Wuhan Technology and Innovation Research Institute, Henry G. Leong Professor in Elderly Vision Health, Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology of the PolyU School of Optometry, Director of the Research Centre for SHARP Vision and Global STEM Scholar, was invited to showcase their teams’ innovation.  AI-assisted non-invasive angiography to help overcome the bottleneck of traditional diagnostic approach Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness globally. The traditional diagnostic approach relies on fluorescein angiography, which is invasive, expensive and causes patient discomfort, putting constraints on primary healthcare screening capacity. A team led by Prof. HE Mingguang, Director of the PolyU-Wuhan Technology and Innovation Research Institute, Henry G. Leong Professor in Elderly Vision Health, Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology of the PolyU School of Optometry, Director of the Research Centre for SHARP Vision and Global STEM Scholar, has leveraged Generative AI technology to facilitate the diagnosis of eye diseases. Their innovation marks three significant breakthroughs. Firstly, it converts fundus photographs to high-precision angiographic images and dynamic videos within a couple seconds, eliminating the risks associated with traditional dye injections. Secondly, its smart diagnostic system enables early detection of pathological changes on the retina such as microaneurysms and retinal hemorrhages, with a sensitivity of 96.2% and specificity of 91.8%. Thirdly, by incorporating ultra-widefield imaging technology, it expands the detection area by 300%. The innovation has already secured five different international patents and is now undergoing multi-centre clinical trials in top medical institutions in GBA. Its teleconsultation system also enables patients in remote areas to receive ophthalmic diagnostic services. This breakthrough research won the Special Merit Award from French Inventors Federation and Europe-France Inventors and a Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva. More details about PolyU’s AI and medicine-engineering integration: https://polyu.hk/ONbNL

PolyU and Stanford Medicine join hands to establish joint collaboratory for longitudinal deep omics

PolyU and Stanford Medicine have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of the PolyU-Stanford Joint Collaboratory for Longitudinal Deep Omics (LDO). Leveraging PolyU’s strengths in biomedical engineering, AI-driven health analytics, and precision medicine–alongside Stanford Medicine’s pioneering expertise in genetics and multi-omics–this partnership aims to establish a standardised multi-omics ageing cohort to investigate the biological mechanisms underpinning healthy and pathological ageing, identify personalised biomarkers, predict ageing-related diseases, and advance the development of precision medicine.

School of Optometry triumphs with 8 awards at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, demonstrating outstanding research excellence and innovation capabilities

The PolyU School of Optometry achieved a record-breaking 8 awards at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, an esteemed annual event dedicated to inventions. Seven innovations from the School garnered these accolades, including 1 Special Prize, 1 Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury, 2 Gold Medals, and 4 Silver Medals. Notably, 2 of these innovations were developed by the Centre for Eye and Vision Research, a collaboration between PolyU and the University of Waterloo. This outstanding accomplishment underscores the School's robust research capabilities and dedication to innovation on a global scale. The project titled “Seeing the Invisible: Generating Non-invasive Angiography as an Alternative to Invasive Retinal Examinations”, developed by the research team led by Prof.  HE Mingguang, Henry G. Leong Professor in Elderly Vision Health and Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology, School of Optometry; Director, Research Centre for SHARP Vision and Dr SHI Danli, Research Assistant Professor, School of Optometry, garnered the Special Merit Award from French Inventors Federation and Europe-France Inventors and a Gold Medal with Jury Commendation. This innovation addresses diabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of blindness, by replacing invasive and expensive fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) with a non-invasive, cost-effective screening solution empowered by generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). It converts colour fundus photography into high-resolution, realistic FFA images, preserving critical lesion details without the need for dye injections. It also supports ultra-widefield imaging and dynamic lesion-preserving video generation.  Another project titled “Eye-on-a-chip Device”, developed by the research team led by Dr ZHOU Liping, Research Assistant Professor, School of Optometry and Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology; Principal Investigator, InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research; Director, Eyenova Biotech Limited (a PolyU startup) and Dr PHAN Chau-Minh, Research Assistant Professor, School of Optometry and Vision Science, UWaterloo; Principal Investigator, InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research; Director, Eyenova Biotech Limited (a PolyU startup), won the Gold Medal. This Eye-On-a-Chip Device is a next-generation in vitro platform that mimics the ocular environment for testing eye products, including ophthalmic solutions, pharmaceuticals, drugs and medical devices. Designed for researchers and pharmaceutical companies, it also utilises microfluidics to simulate tear flow and employs real-time imaging with an automated analysis algorithm for cell health assessment.  PolyU School of Optometry’s winning innovations at the 50th Geneva Inventions Expo:   Project and Award(s) Principal Investigator(s)    Seeing the Invisible: Generating Non-invasive Angiography as an Alternative to Invasive Retinal Examinations Special Merit Award from French Inventors Federation and Europe-France Inventors Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury Dr SHI Danli (Research Assistant Professor, School of Optometry) Prof. HE Mingguang (Henry G. Leong Professor in Elderly Vision Health and Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology, School of Optometry; Director, Research Centre for SHARP Vision)     Behaviour Recognition Method, Device and Wearable Device Gold Medal Prof.  HE Mingguang (Henry G. Leong Professor in Elderly Vision Health and Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology, School of Optometry; Director, Research Centre for SHARP Vision) Dr TO Yuen Ying Elaine (Postdoctoral Fellow in Ophthalmology, School of Optometry)   Eye-on-a-chip Device   Gold Medal   Dr ZHOU Liping (Research Assistant Professor, School of Optometry and Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology; Principal Investigator, InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research; Director, Eyenova Biotech Limited (a PolyU startup) ) Dr PHAN Chau-Minh (Research Assistant Professor, School of Optometry and Vision Science, UWaterloo; Principal Investigator, InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research;  Director, Eyenova Biotech Limited (a PolyU startup))   The EyeFatigue Tracker: Exploring Visual Health through Wearable Devices and Deep-Learning Technology  Silver Medal Dr CHEN Yanxian (Research Assistant Professor, School of Optometry)   STARS: Smartphone AI Refraction System  Silver Medal   Prof. DO Chi Wai (Associate Professor, School of Optometry) Prof. Grace NGAI (Associate Professor, Department of Computing)   Biomimetics Nanoplatform for the Treatment of Retinal Diseases Silver Medal   Prof. DO Chi Wai (Associate Professor, School of Optometry; Principal Investigator, InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research) Prof. Emmanuel HO (Professor, School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo; Principal Investigator, InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research)   Wellsees Orthokeratology Contact Lens  Silver Medal   Dr Jason Ki-Kit LAU (Technical Director, Wellsees Technologies Co Ltd) Mr Roger Jing ZHANG (Founder, Wellsees Technologies Co., Ltd.) Prof. Chea-su KEE (Head, School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Co-Founder, Wellsees Technologies Co., Ltd. ) Dr Andy WANG (Associate Professor, College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University; Co-Founder, Wellsees Technologies Co., Ltd. (a PolyU startup))   The 50th Geneva Inventions Expo attracted over a thousand entries from close to 40 countries and regions. To learn more about these impactful projects, please refer to the PolyU website or visit the website of the PolyU Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office.

2025 World Optometry Week: Optometry Clinic Tour and Insights into Comprehensive Eye Examination

In collaboration with The Hong Kong Association of Private Practice Optometrists (HKAPPO), the School of Optometry successfully hosted the “2025 World Optometry Week – Optometry Clinic Tour and Insights into Comprehensive Eye Examination” on 18-19 March 2025.  We were honored to welcome distinguished guests, including Ms Tang Ming Wai Mandy, Chairman of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Dr Hon David Lam Tzit-yuen, Legislative Council Member, as well as representatives from Sik Sik Yuen, The Hong Kong Asthma Society, the Association of Hong Kong Nursing Society, and Hong Kong Children’s Hospital. This event provided an excellent opportunity to showcase the specialized and professional services offered at the PolyU Optometry Clinic and to emphasize the crucial role of optometrists play in Hong Kong’s healthcare system.  World Optometry Week is an annual event organized by the World Council of Optometry to raise awareness about the vital role of optometry in global health and wellness. The week emphasizes the importance of eye care as a fundamental human right and encourages optometrists, healthcare leaders, and policymakers worldwide to prioritize eye health within the global health agenda. The theme for 2025, "Eyes to the Future: Optometry Improving Global Wellness," underscores the profession's commitment to enhancing access to eye health care globally.

PolyU School of Optometry supports HK Paralympic Committee 1st Classification Conference

The 1st Classification Conference of the China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee was successfully held on March 22, 2025. As a supporting organisation, the School of Optometry at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University was represented by Prof. Andrew Lam, Professor and Associate Head of the school, who participated in a panel discussion titled “Future Development of the Classification for Hong Kong Para Sports”. Together with other guests, they discussed and expressed opinions on issues such as: How to optimize the classification system? How to effectively promote the classification system to the public and stakeholders? How can we ensure greater fairness in the classification process? The seminar was themed “Classification in Para Sports – A New Era”. Classification is a crucial issue for the development of para-sports and has a significant impact on the fairness of para-sports. The seminar shared the latest developments in classification from the International Paralympic Committee and explored the future development direction of classification for para sports in the Hong Kong, China region. Over 700 participants, either online or in person, attended the conference from 17 countries and regions. These included classifiers, coaches, athletes, physiotherapists, medical personnel, sports administrators, government officials, representatives from international para sports organizations, representatives from international sports federations, and representatives from various regional Paralympic Committees. More details: https://www.ksproductionhk.com/post/_4259 (in Chinese)

Prof. Carly Lam’s Research on Myopia Prevalence Among HK Children Recognized as One of the Century's Most Impactful Papers in OPO

We are thrilled to congratulate Prof. Carly Lam, Adjunct Professor at the School of Optometry, for her outstanding achievement. Her paper, titled "Prevalence of Myopia Among Hong Kong Chinese Schoolchildren: Changes Over Two Decades," has been honoured as one of the top 12 original research papers published in the last 100 years in the journal Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics (OPO). Published in 2012, Prof. Lam's groundbreaking work has distinguished itself as the 3rd most cited original paper in terms of average citations per year since its publication in OPO, spanning the years 1925 to 2025. In addition to this remarkable recognition, Prof. Lam was awarded the Bernard Gilmartin OPO Award by the College of Optometrists in London, UK, in 2015, for the same paper of hers as the highly-regarded paper published in OPO in the preceding five years. The paper was a collaborative effort, co-authored with Dr Lam Chin-hang, Dr Sam Cheng Chi-kwan, and Dr Lily Chan Yee-lai. Prof. Lam's contributions continue to inspire and advance the field of optometry, and we are proud to celebrate her achievements. Source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/opo.13480 

Special Olympics Hong Kong - Healthy Athletes Programme 2025

 19 students and optometrists from the School of Optometry, PolyU, along with volunteer optometrists from The Hong Kong Society of Professional Optometrists and The Hong Kong Association of Private Practice Optometrists, participated in the "Healthy Athletes" programme organized by Special Olympics Hong Kong on Saturday, 22 February. They conducted vision tests, prescription checks, ocular health assessments, etc., for 84 Special Olympics athletes and prescribed glasses or provided sunglasses for those in need. Since 2001, the School of Optometry at PolyU has been collaborating with other healthcare professionals to support the Special Olympics Hong Kong’s “Healthy Athletes" programme annually. Through these eye health screenings, they aim to improve the health conditions of Special Olympics athletes while also collecting, analyzing, and publishing data on the athletes' health conditions and needs to enhance their sporting experience. Healthy Athletes programme 2025 [Photo Gallery]

Seeing the World Clearly: School of Optometry Leads Record-Breaking Service-Learning Trip to the Philippines

In a groundbreaking initiative, the School of Optometry (SO) at PolyU organized its largest-ever service-learning trip outside Hong Kong in January 2025, bringing together 10 staff members, 28 SO students, and 115 non-SO students from the General University Requirements (GUR) subject titled “Learning through Providing Eye Care and Vision Health to the Community”. This unprecedented group embarked on a mission to provide essential eye care services and foster cultural exchange at Krus Na Ligus Elementary School, San Vicente Elementary School, and San Vicente Barangay Hall, with support from the University of the Philippines, Manila and Diliman Campus.  

Early Closure of PolyU Optometry Clinic and Community Optometry Centres

【Clinic Special Opening Hours】 The PolyU Optometry Clinic on Hunghom campus, the Integrative Community Health Center in Lai King and the Sik Sik Yuen – PolyU Optometry Centre (Wong Tai Sin Teaching and Learning Centre) will have early closure on 28 January 2025. Thank you for your attention.   【診所特別營業時間】 紅磡理大眼科視光學診所、葵青荔景社區結合保健中心及嗇色園-香港理工大學眼科視光學中心 (黃大仙教學中心) 於2025年1月28日提前休息。特此通知。 

Early Closure of PolyU Optometry Clinic and Community Optometry Centres

【Clinic Special Opening Hours】 The PolyU Optometry Clinic on Hunghom campus, the Integrative Community Health Center in Lai King and the Sik Sik Yuen – PolyU Optometry Centre (Wong Tai Sin Teaching and Learning Centre) will have early closure on the following days. Thank you for your attention. 21 Dec 2024 (Sat) - Closed at 4:00pm 24 Dec 2024 (Tue) - Closed at 1:00pm 31 Dec 2024 (Tue) - Closed at 4:00pm   【診所特別營業時間】 紅磡理大眼科視光學診所、葵青荔景社區結合保健中心及嗇色園-香港理工大學眼科視光學中心 (黃大仙教學中心) 於下列日子提前休息。特此通知。 2024年12月21日（星期六） - 下午4時休息 2024年12月24日（星期二） - 下午1時休息 2024年12月31日（星期二） - 下午4時休息