PhD Student Zhao Mei received Best Student Presenter Award

Congratulations to Ms Zhao Mei, PhD student of the School, who received the Best Student Presenter Award for outstanding performance in Research Seminars in Semester 1, AY2021/22.  The School organized the Research Seminar Series twice per academic year to encourage academic exchange among peers and provide research students with presentation opportunities showcasing their research output.   

PolyU collaborates with C-MER Eye Care to nurture Hong Kong’s young optometrists in the Greater Bay Area

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) signed a five-year memorandum of understanding with C-MER Eye Care Holdings Limited to advance optometry development and eye and vision health in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

PhD Student Mr Jimmy Tse awarded as the HUPO Best Poster Presenters from Asia

Mr Jimmy Tse, PhD student and Clinical Associate of the School, received the Best Poster Presenters from Asia Award at the online Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) 2021 ReCONNECT Congress dated 15-19 November 2021, for his poster titled “Comparison of In-Solution and STrapTM Based Sample Preparation for Tear Proteomics Study”.  HUPO Congress is the world's largest Proteomics Conference. The Award is sponsored by the Asian Oceania Human Proteome Organization (AOHUPO). Out of 62 students from Asia, Mr Jimmy Tse won this award for his work related to tear biomarker development in proteomics.

Presidential Appointment of Prof. Carly Lam by the Asia Pacific Council of Optometry

The Asia Pacific Council of Optometry (APCO) recently announced the appointment of Prof. Carly Lam, Professor of PolyU School of Optometry as the President of APCO Executive Committee. Prof. Lam has served in APCO and World Council of Optometry (WCO) in various roles for more than 10 years.  She is currently a Member of the College of Optometrists (UK) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometrists. She is the honorary advisor of The Hong Kong Society of Professional Optometrists, and an Honorary Member of The Association of Private Practice Optometrists. Prof. Lam has served in the regulatory bodies of Optometry in Hong Kong; as a member of the Supplementary Medical Professions Council in Hong Kong, and a member of the Optometrists Board of Hong Kong. Prof. Carly Lam has a long-standing research interest in myopia and binocular vision. She received the OPO Bernard Gilmartin Award from the College of Optometrists in UK for Research Excellence in 2015. She was also awarded the KB Woo Lecturer in 2019. 

The Hong Kong Eye and Vision Research Forum

Dr Andrew Lam Awarded the APCO KB Woo Lecturer 2021

Dr Andrew Lam, Associate Professor and Associate Head, School of Optometry, was honoured as the “KB Woo Lecturer 2021” by the Asia Pacific Council of Optometry (APCO) on 20 November 2021. Sponsored by the KB Woo Family, Dr Lam delivered the KB Woo Lecture titled “OCT/OCTA: it is simple but yet not so simple” in the APCO 2nd Optometry Educators’ e-Forum as part of the World Council of Optometry (WCO) “Eyes Around the World: A Global Day of Learning” event. The WCO had live-streamed various lectures for practising clinicians and optometric educators across three timezones for 24 hours of continuing education during the “Eyes Around the World: A Global Day of Learning” global continuing education event dated 20 November 2021.  The APCO took the opportunity to offer 4 hours of webinars to gear up the post-pandemic learning strategies for Optometry Educators in the region and other parts of the world. The purpose of the Optometry Educators’ Forum was to promote sharing of teaching and learning resources within the Asia Pacific region. Dr Jessica Neuville, Clinical Associate of the School, also shared a talk on “Take-home & Online Exams” at the same event. 

The 27th Congregation

The 27th Congregation of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University marked a remarkable milestone of the Class of 2021 School of Optometry graduates. The School has 34 Bachelor’s Degree graduates, 1 Master of Philosophy graduate and a record high of 10 Doctor of Philosophy graduates this year. May our graduates carry the professional spirit to serve the community and beat the challenges. Our warmest congratulations on your achievements! Faculty Distinguished Thesis Award Congratulations to the following PhD graduates who have been awarded the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences Distinguished Thesis Award:   Dr CHOI Kai-yip Thesis Title : Effect of Optical Defocus Characteristics in the Living Environment and Interaction with Peripheral Refractive Error on Myopia Progression Chief Supervisor        :  Dr Henry CHAN   Dr LI Rong Thesis Title : Exploration of Molecular Mechanism of the Retina Aging Chief Supervisor  :  Dr LIN Bin   The Dean's Honours List Congratulations to the following graduates who have been selected and named on the Dean's Honours List 2020/21: Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Optometry CHAN Hiu Tung Toby LI Ho Fai WONG Ching Laam YANG She Chiu

PolyU Optometry Research Impact Ranked 15 Globally and Top of Asia

PolyU School of Optometry has been ranked 15 out of the approximately 245 optometry schools globally, as shown in a recently published bibliometric analysis. Among the top 20 optometry schools, PolyU is the only one listed institution in Asia.  According to the publication, the top 20 optometry schools with the highest research impact are found in seven countries/regions: US (8); UK (5); Australia (3); Canada (1); Hong Kong (1); New Zealand (1); and Portugal (1). The ranking implies that PolyU Optometry is one of the top 6% optometry schools in the world and the leader in Asia.  PolyU School of Optometry’s research impact is highly regarded in the international academic community, particularly in myopia control, diabetic retinopathy and cornea biometry.

Bright Light Exposure and Shortsightedness Study (BLESS) - Recruiting myopia children

Myopia research team from School of Optometry of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University are recruiting school children to take part in a clinical trial on myopia control. The study aims to slow the progression of myopia in children using bright light therapy as higher levels of myopia are associated with increased risk of eye complications. Spectacles will be prescribed to eligible children and a bright light therapy lamp will be distributed. Throughout 2-year study period, children will be invited to visit Optometry Research Clinic in PolyU every 6 months. Comprehensive eye examination (with pupil dilation) will be conducted in order to evaluate children’s myopia development and general eye health. Participation is free of charge.   Target: • Children aged between 7 -12 years • Myopia between -0.75 D to -5.00 D • Astigmatism: less than ≤ 1.50 D • No history on myopia control such as atropine, orthokeratology, or myopic control contact lenses and spectacle lenses • No squint (crossed eye) or amblyopia (lazy eye)   For more information, please refer to above video or link: https://youtu.be/qLnAgHI4P1Y Registration: https://bit.ly/3h8gLr1 Email: rif.adm@polyu.edu.hk  

The 19th Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium

Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, The Hong Kong Optometric Association and PolyU School of Optometry, The 19th Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium (HKIOS) was held successfully in a hybrid format on 11 November 2021. The HKIOS was attended by over 950 physical attendees, while attracting more than 1,960 online viewers from 12 countries and regions.  Under the theme “Updates on Myopia under the Pandemic”, the Symposium will feature 7 experts from Canada, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Kingdom to share the latest research on myopia progression and tactics for myopia control under the pandemic.   Dr Jessica Neuville, Clinical Associate of the School served as the moderator of the morning session. Dr Jeffrey Leung, Research Associate Professor and Prof. Pauline Cho, Professor, School of Optometry, PolyU, co-instructed the talk on Refractive Error Changes in Hong Kong Children during COVID-19 Pandemic and Combination Therapy for Myopia Control”.  The HKIOS is an accredited event by the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE). The event also solicited support from the Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS) under the HKSAR Government.  More photos at https://polyu.hk/MBvGD.