Dr Jessica Neuville bestowed with the Faculty Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching 2021

Congratulations to Dr Jessica Neuville, Clinical Associate of the School, who was recently bestowed with the Faculty Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching (Individual) 2021, for her outstanding teaching performance and significant contribution to optometry teaching and learning enhancement. Dr Neuville joined the School in 2015 as a part-time Clinical Associate and continued to contribute in a full-time role in 2020. She has demonstrated dedication to high-quality teaching and the development of new pedagogies. She played key roles in developing the first Massive Open Online Course of the School and other digitalized interactive teaching projects. These projects were well received by PolyU students and learners from around the world.  Dr Neuville’s teaching extends beyond the classroom to the clinical setting. She won the Best Clinical Case Presentation Award at the Hong Kong Primary Care Conference 2021. Not only did she receive students’ appreciation for clinical supervision, but she was also invited to present her clinical teaching projects and strategies adopted at the annual American Academy of Optometry Conference and the international educator forums.  Dr Neuville is also the recipient of the School of Optometry Teaching Excellence Award 2020/21.

Temporary Closure of The PolyU Optometry Clinic

The Optometry Clinic of PolyU received report that a staff had symptoms on 15 February and was tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19. The staff last worked on 14 February 2022 in the Optometry Clinic The Clinic will be closed on 16 & 17 February 2022 for conducting thorough disinfection and cleaning. The Clinic will resume service on 18 February. The School has also notified our staff, students and patients who might have close contact with the confirmed case. Patients who are asymptomatic but have concerns about the risk of infection or their health condition, may consider undergoing a COVID-19 test.  Our staff will contact the affected patients as soon as possible for appointment rescheduling. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. (中文版通告)

Optometry Scholars won the PolyU President’s Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Knowledge Transfer 2021

Congratulations to Prof. To Chi-ho, Head of School, Prof. Carly Lam, Professor and Dr Dennis Tse, Associate Professor who were awarded the Team Award – Knowledge Transfer: Industry under PolyU President’s Award 2021 in recognition of their impactful leadership and commitments to the research in applying the simultaneous defocus technology to advance the standard of myopia control and address a global problem.  The PolyU President’s Awards for Outstanding Achievement is a university-wide award to recognise the distinguished accomplishments and contributions of PolyU staff members. The team was also the winner of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences Award 2021 in Knowledge Transfer. 

PolyU studies show astigmatism and myopia among schoolchildren worsened in the pandemic

Researchers from School of Optometry found that the share of schoolchildren, aged 8 to 10, suffering from astigmatism increased by a substantial 50% during the pandemic as they spent extra time on electronic devices. They also found that despite the adverse effects on schoolchildren's eye health during the pandemic, the Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) Spectacle Lens jointly developed by PolyU and Hoya Corporation could effectively slow down children's myopia progression by 46%. 

Optometry Team won Second Prize in 2021 International Contest on Blended Teaching & Learning

The School of Optometry team won the Second Prize in the 2021 International Contest on Blended Teaching & Learning (ICBTL2021) with their project titled “Cooperative learning through providing eye care and vision health service to the community”, appreciating their innovative teaching method and encouragement to students’ participatory learning. The winning team consisted of Associate Professors Dr DO Chi-wai & Dr Henry CHAN, Optometrists Dr Geoffrey CHU, Ms Natalie CHAN, Ms Vivian LO and Clinical Associate Dr Lily CHAN. Their service-learning subject aims to raise students’ awareness of health care issues and nurture their sense of social responsibility. By providing community vision screenings and eye care activities, the team facilitated students from different disciplines to apply what they have learned in the classroom and worked towards a common goal of blindness prevention in the community. Initiated and hosted by Peking University, the International Contest on Blended Teaching & Learning aims to promote innovation in design, construction, implementation and application of innovative Blended Learning (BTL) in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), and dedicated to exploring, cultivating and demonstrating the achievements of Blended Learning from the participating universities around the world.

PhD Student Ms Wang Qin won Second Runner-up in Basic Research Presentation

Congratulations to Ms Wang Qin, PhD Student of the School, who won the Second Runner-up in Basic Research (Posterior Segment) at the 10th Li Ka Shing Foundation International Ophthalmic Graduate Student Forum 2021, hosted by the Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong on 26 December 2021.  Her awarded presentation was titled "Contributions of amacrine cells to synchronous firing of retinal ganglion cells in the mouse retina". 

In Memoriam: Mr Hilton Cheong-Leen, CBE, JP

The PolyU School of Optometry records with the most profound sorrow of the passing of Mr Hilton Cheong-Leen, CBE, JP (張有興先生), Chairman of the inaugural Advising Committee of the PolyU Centre for Myopia of Research and Honorary Advisor of the School, on 4 January 2022, at age 99.  Mr Cheong was a diligent politician and businessman who had served as Urban Council and Legislative Council member in the last century. He was committed to community services and showed concern about the problem of myopia of schoolchildren.  During a LegCo meeting back in 1986, Mr Cheong expressed concern about the high percentage of myopic students and urged the government for a campaign to prevent the worsening situation. He also suggested enhancing the visual function screening for primary school students and giving them additional visual health support. He had been one of the leading advocates in comprehending visual and health care support to schoolchildren.  Mr Cheong had been the Honorary Advisor of the Centre for Myopia Research from its inception in 1997. He had been a keen supporter of the School, particularly in myopia research.  The School conveys its heartfelt condolences to Mr Cheong’s family. He will always be remembered for his distinguished contributions and support to optometry professional development and myopia research in Hong Kong and beyond.

Result Announcement - Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU School of Optometry 2022

The School of Optometry is pleased to present the “Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU School of Optometry 2022” to two distinguished graduates in recognition of their for their professional achievements and significant contributions to the School, PolyU and the community. Their remarkable achievements and valuable contributions have earned them well-deserved honour and respectful recognition.  Congratulations to the following awardees! 

Optometry students presented in Undergraduate Research and Innovation Scheme (URIS) student sharing session

Two Optometry Year 3 Students, Mr Tai Cheuk-yiu and Mr Liu Wai-cheung, and their Chief Supervisor Dr Jeffrey Leung, Research Assistant Professor of SO, presented findings from their group research project titled “Impacts on off-axis Astigmatism on Short-term Refractive and Ocular Biometric Changes” at the Undergraduate Research and Innovation Scheme (URIS) Student Sharing Session hosted by the PolyU Graduate School on 29 December 2021. As one of the four selected funded research projects of URIS, the undergraduate researchers in optometry showcased their research ideations and how to tackle real-world challenges. “Myopia is a prevalent refractive error that leads to multiple sight-threatening eye diseases. While numerous ophthalmic optical designs employed off-axis defocus to control myopia, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. Here we hypothesize that off-axis stigmatism helps decode defocus information and investigate its effect on refractive and ocular biometric changes.” An engaging discussion panel accompanied the sharing session to exchange views with the Central Management Team of PolyU, Head of College of Undergraduate Researchers and Innovators (CURI) and Residential College Master of CURI. PolyU is honoured to have received a generous donation from Lee Wan Keung Charity Foundation for supporting the full nurture of research and innovation among the undergraduates. In this sharing session, it was encouraging to receive a genuine and supporting comment from the donor representative, Ms Rosanna Lee. Undergraduate Research and Innovation Scheme (URIS) URIS was launched in summer 2021, as the basis of professional university education through enquiry-based learning. Supported by the University Grants Committee (UGC) and the strategic plan of PolyU from 2019 to 2045, the Scheme embedded the objective of enhancing the involvement of undergraduates in research activities under the supervision of academic staff and expanding the research element in the curriculum. Thereby, the scheme ignites students' academic curiosity to become the next generation of intellectuals for a more significant impact on knowledge application beyond boundaries.

Winter Taster Programme for Secondary School Students 2021

Around 30 Form 5 and Form 6 students from 21 local secondary schools participated in the Winter Taster Programme organized by the School on 22 December 2021. Participants learned various eye diseases and eye care knowledge through the workshop on vision sciences and interactive sessions. They toured the Optometry Clinic, Optometry Research Clinic and affiliated teaching and learning facilities in PolyU. Meanwhile, the School academic faculty and optometrists shared their experience which enabled participants to have a better understanding of the optometry undergraduate programme and the direction of future professional development.