White Coat Ceremony 2024

The School of Optometry held the White Coat Ceremony on 27 August 2024. Amidst the presence of faculty members, mentors, and peers, 47 Year 4 students in optometry took the optometric oath, pledging their commitment to upholding professional ethics throughout their clinical placements and future careers. With great significance, the students received their white coats from academic advisors, symbolizing their entry into the esteemed eye care profession. In his opening remarks, Prof. Andrew Lam, Associate Head (Programmes and Clinical Training) of the School, shared the history of white coat ceremony and reminded students of the white coat's representation of clinical service and healthcare. He urged them to embrace their responsibilities and utilize their acquired knowledge to serve the public diligently. The School of Optometry White Coat Ceremony has been organized since 2015, aiming to highlight the white coat's symbolic importance for a clinician. The fourth-year optometry students will start their clinical training in the following two years after the ceremony. White Coat Ceremony 2024 [Photo Gallery]

Online Application for Doctor of Optometry Programme for January 2025 Intake Opens Soon!

The School of Optometry at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University introduces its innovative Doctor of Optometry (DOptom) programme, designed to empower practicing optometrists to become experts and leaders in their specialty areas. This 2.5-year full-time or 5-year part-time programme combines advanced clinical skills, critical analysis, and contemporary research methods. Students complete a 24-credit coursework component covering areas such as Orthokeratology, Specialty Contact Lens, Contemporary Myopia Control, and Ocular Misalignment, along with a 1-credit Academic Integrity and Ethics component and a 24-credit equivalent thesis. The programme fosters the development of advanced clinical skills, critical analysis, management, and contemporary research methods. Graduates will become experts in their chosen specialty areas, equipped to lead and innovate in the field of optometry. Learn more about our DOptom programme at: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/so/study/tpg/doptom   About the Admissions The online application will open on 9 September 2024, and we strongly encourage early applications due to a limited admissions quota. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews, with offers made on a rolling basis. For more information about admissions, please click here.   Upcoming Information Seminar An information seminar about the programme will be held on 10 September 2024, available in both online and face-to-face formats. Interested candidates are invited to register for these admission events here.

PolyU School of Optometry x Orbis Future Vision Leader Program 2024-25

Collaborated by PolyU School of Optometry and Orbis, the “Future Vision Leader Program” provides valuable opportunities for students to apply their knowledge to society and nurture their sense of social responsibility in AY2024/25. Students will form a team of 2-8 members and embark on a year-long global mission for eye health! Highlights of the program: Lead a Fundraising Campaign to combat global blindness Compete in the Orbis Visionary Innovators Hackathon - a 24-hour virtual team challenge with international medical students Get lifetime access to Cybersight - an award-winning telemedicine platform Attend “Dialogue with Orbis” Day Camp to boost your confidence and public speaking skills Volunteer at fun fundraising events, like Walkathons and carnivals

Result Announcement - Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU School of Optometry 2024

The School of Optometry is honoured to present the “Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU School of Optometry 2024” to two distinguished alumni in recognition of 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!

PhD Student Wong Yu-qi received Best Student Presenter Award

Ms WONG Yu-qi, PhD student at the School, has been awarded the Best Student Presenter Award for her exceptional performance in the Research Seminars in Semester 2, AY2023/24. Her presentation was titled "Axial elongation among Hong Kong Chinese children wearing single-vision spectacles: A retrospective cohort study". The School hosts the Research Seminar Series biannually to foster academic dialogue among students and offer them a platform to present their research findings.

SO Three Minute Thesis Competition

On May 14, 2024, the School of Optometry successfully hosted the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition. Participants delivered engaging three-minute presentations, accompanied by a single static slide, to showcase their research topics and captivate the panel members. Originating from the University of Queensland, Australia, in 2008, the 3MT® Competition is designed to enhance the academic, presentation, and research communication skills of postgraduate research students. It encourages them to effectively convey their research to a non-specialist audience within a three-minute timeframe. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the winners of the 2024 SO 3MT® Competition, who have earned their nominations for the upcoming FHSS competition on June 14, 2024.  Name  Presentation Title  Chief Supervisor  Award  Mr SO Ching  Is myopia control value for  money?  Dr Tina LIAN  Champion  Mr YANG Xiayin  Neuromyelitis optica  spectrum disorders  (NMOSD) animal model  and potential underlying  disease mechanisms  Dr Ellen TAN  First Runner-up  Ms AYERAKWAH Patience   Ansomah  Effect Of Partial Field  Astigmatism On Refractive  Development  Dr Jeffrey LEUNG  Second Runner-up

PolyU joins WHO Global SPECS Network, contributing towards 2030 global eye health target

We are pleased to announce that The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has joined as a member institution of the Global SPECS Network hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2024. The Network, which comprises representatives from inter-governmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, academic institutions, private sector and philanthropic foundations, promotes collective and coordinated advocacy and action towards the WHO SPECS 2030 target, that is to achieve a 40% increase in effective global coverage of refractive error by 2030. Prof. HE Mingguang, Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology of the School of Optometry (SO) and Director of the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV) and Prof. KEE Chea-su, Professor & Head of SO and Associate Director of RCSV serve as the representatives of PolyU in meetings, communication and collaboration of the Network. The School and RCSV shall continue pursuing various impactful and international collaborations with the goal of creating knowledge and solutions for the promotion of a healthy, lifelong, sharp vision. Please visit here for the member list of the Network.

PolyU forms global partnership with ZEISS Vision Care to expand impact and accelerate market penetration of patented myopia control technology

School of Optometry wins Gold Medals and Grand Prize at Geneva Inventions Expo

Impactful innovations from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) won a record-breaking number of accolades at the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (Geneva Inventions Expo), a widely recognised annual event devoted exclusively to invention.

Online Application of Doctor of Optometry Programme for September 2024 intake Is Now Open!

The School is excited to announce that the online application for the Doctor of Optometry (DOptom) Programme for the September 2024 intake is now open. Programme Information Admission Details The programme offers students the opportunity to broaden and deepen their clinical knowledge and skills by combining advanced courses of study with research in areas of professional significance and relevance. It is the first of its kind offered in Hong Kong, dedicated to advancing the knowledge and training of optometrists in selected optometry specialty areas. It equips graduates with the advanced clinical knowledge and skills necessary to become leaders in the optometry profession. The application deadline for the DOptom Programme is 30 April 2024. We strongly encourage early applications, as there is a quota for admissions. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews, with offers being made on a rolling basis.   [Information Seminars] Two upcoming information seminars about the programme will be organised on 20 February 2024 (online mode) and 26 March 2024 (both online and face-to-face modes). Interested candidates are invited to register for these admission events on the DOptom webpage.