SO Signs Memorandum of Understanding with The Hong Kong Society for the Blind to Enhance Collaboration

School of Optometry (SO) and The Hong Kong Society for the Blind (HKSB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 7 August 2019 on PolyU campus. SO and HKSB have established an abiding collaboration over the past years. The MoU will further enhance the clinical learning experience for SO students, promote joint effort in fund application to support more research studies in low vision, and develop close collaboration between SO and HKSB for developing optimal model for vision rehabilitation.

Summer Programme for Secondary School Student 2019

90 S5 and S6 students from 40 local secondary schools joined the Summer Programme 2019 on 16-17 July. The one-day experiential programme consisted of interactive activities, campus tour and workshop for students who are passionate about optometry and aiming to be a healthcare professional in the future. Participants toured the PolyU campus, optometry clinics and the clinical laboratories, as well as gained insights on optometry discipline and information on career prospects from the sharing by academic staff and resident optometrists. Interactive activities such as the use of eye examination stimulator and stereopsis workshop helped students to gain a better understanding of the eye care profession. 22 participants joined the extended hands-on activities on 19-20 July 2019. After the training, participants along with the students from the School of Optometry visited a non-governmental social welfare organization to provide community vision screening services to low-income families.

RGC General Research Fund (GRF/ECS) 2019-2020

The School is pleased to announce that our faculty member as principal investigators has secured funding from the General Research Fund (GRF/ECS). Principal Investigators Co-Investigators Project Title Funding Awarded Dr Thomas Lam Dr Qian Zhan (Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, PolyU, HK) Dr Dennis Tse (School of Optometry, PolyU, HK) Dr Wing Chi Chan (Department of Health Technology and Informatics, PolyU, HK) Prof Chi-ho To (School of Optometry, PolyU, HK) Dr Sally A McFadden (University of Newcastle, Australia) Dr Henry Chan (School of Optometry, PolyU, HK) Atropine mediated proteins in myopia control: Insights from a new mammalian guinea pig model using an integrated next generation proteomics strategy HK$1,041,432

Healthy Vision Day

The “Healthy Vision Day” was organized by the “Vision of Love Mobile Eye Care Project” under the School of Optometry of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and co-organized by the C.N.E.C. Lui Ming Choi Primary School. The event was successfully held on 29 June in the C.N.E.C. Lui Ming Choi Primary School and attracted over 200 parents and children. The participants enjoyed a pleasant and meaningful morning. The activities were of great varieties, including seminar, interactive workshop, exhibition and educational booths, to let students and parents learn about eye health knowledge, such as the basics of eye diseases, theories of binocular vision and duties of optometrists, and to remind them the daily eye care tips and the importance of protecting “the window of the soul”. Photo Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/sWaGdjLaP5hUXCjJ7

Prof. George Woo receives Honorary Degree from University of Waterloo, Canada

Prof. George Woo, Emeritus Professor of Optometry and Senior Advisor of the School, received an honorary Doctor of Science degree, honoris causa, at the Spring Convocation ceremony of the University of Waterloo, Canada, on 13 June 2019. As former Head of PolyU’s School of Optometry and former Dean of Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Prof. Woo is also an alumnus of and a Professor Emeritus of Optometry at the University of Waterloo. The honorary degree was bestowed on Prof. Woo in recognition of his enormous academic and service contributions to his alma mater as well as for his distinguished accomplishments in optometry.

PolyU JUPAS Consultation Day 2019

PolyU JUPAS Consultation Day 2019 was successfully held on PolyU campus on 18 May. To provide updated admission strategies and programme information to JUPAS applicants, the School organized activities including an Info Seminar, guided visits and consultation sessions which attracted dozens of parents and students to participate. The Info Seminar was delivered by Dr Patrick Ting, Clinical Associate of our School. Audiences got to learn about the programme features and career prospect of the BSc (Hons) in Optometry Programme. To enhance participants' understanding in our programme, guided lab visits were arranged. Our enthusiastic students introduced and demonstrated the advanced equipment in the laboratory. After the guided visits, consultation sessions were held for participants to interact with our academic staff and students to know more about the entrance requirements, curriculum, programme characteristics and campus life. Photo Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Lm3uLEhmMdc1WFf16

TMU and PolyU Co-establish Joint Laboratory of Optometry and Vision Science

The School of Optometry and Ophthalmology of Tianjin Medical University (TMU) and the School of Optometry (SO) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) joined forces to establish the “TMU-PolyU Joint Laboratory of Optometry and Vision Science”. Through interdisciplinary collaboration of researchers from both universities, it is expected to commence impactful research to greatly enhance the research capacity in optometry and vision science, and nurture talents in eye health profession for developing significant basic science researches and fostering knowledge-transfer outcomes. The Partnership Agreement Signing cum Plaque Unveiling Ceremony was officiated at TMU on 9 May by Prof. Hua Yan, President, TMU and Prof. Chi-ho To, Head of SO, PolyU. Other guests included Prof. Ruhua Wei, The Party Committee Secretary and Deputy President of Optometry School, TMU, Prof. George Woo, Emeritus Professor & Senior Advisor, PolyU and representatives from the two universities. The joint laboratory will address major vision-related imperatives and set-up specific laboratories focusing on myopia basic research, orthokeratology, optics research, binocular vision, low vision, vision (neuro)-science, and eye pathology and optometry clinical research.

STEM Talk & Workshop on 3D Vision

Dr. Patrick Ting, Clinical Associate of our School, delivered a STEM talk and workshop on “Why do we have the sense of depth and 3D vision?” for the HKSciFest 2019 on 13 April on PolyU campus. Dozens of participants, including adults and kids, attended the event. The workshops activities were rich in content, including making a 3D optical illusion model, experimenting the importance of binocular vision to our visual-motor coordination, and experiencing virtual reality etc. The event was well-recognized by participants, who learnt the theory of depth perception, as well as the process of depth information by our eyes and brain. Photo Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/K1Fn4NfwuSu3zcNz6

Staff Honoured as Outstanding Consultants in Knowledge Transfer Activities

Prof. Pauline Cho and Dr Peggy Cheung received the “Highest International/Non-local Consultancy Merit Award of 2018” for her project “Pilot Evaluation of On-Eye to Mobile Application Lens Assessment” at the Outstanding Professional Services Awards Presentation Ceremony on 4 March 2019. Organized by PolyU’s Technology and Consultancy (PTeC) Co. Ltd., the awards honour departments and staff in consultancy and licensing activities for their outstanding performance. Dr Allen Cheong is a member of the consultancy project “Consultancy Services for Review of Hong Kong Rehabilitation Programme Plan” which won the “Most Valued Project” and “Multi-departmental Participation” Awards. Project collaborators include Prof. Hector Tsang (RS), Prof. Marco Pang (RS), Dr Wu Qiaobing (APSS), Dr Raymond Chung (RS), Dr Shirley Ching (SN), Dr Tony To (HTI) and Prof. Daniel Shek (FHSS).

Staff Members Honoured for Loyal Service

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University held the Long Service Award Presentation Ceremony on 22 February 2019, in appreciating staff members’ loyal service to the University over the years. Five staff members from the School of Optometry had been acknowledged for their years of dedicated service. The awardees included: Prof. Chi-ho To Prof. Maurice Yap Prof. Pauline Cho Dr Peter Pang Dr Ronnie Huang