For people with myopia, the world can look blurry. Also known as short-sightedness, myopia presents a significant global health challenge, impacting over two billion individuals worldwide, a number projected to increase to half the world's population by 2050. For children, the implications are particularly concerning, as untreated high myopia can lead to serious visual impairments, including blindness. This looming crisis demands innovative solutions, and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is leading the way with groundbreaking research and real-world technologies to mitigate the myopia epidemic, living up to the University’s motto, “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”.
Pioneering Technologies to Slow Myopia Progression
PolyU's unwavering commitment to vision health is deeply rooted in the University’s DNA of scientific and engineering excellence, impactful innovation, and effective knowledge transfer. Through its cutting-edge research, PolyU has developed advanced myopia control technologies, including Defocus Incorporated Soft Contact (DISC) and Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) lenses. These state-of-the-art lenses have been proven to slow myopia progression by around 60%, and have the potential to reduce the high myopia population by 90% by 2050.
The lenses have been commercialised in collaboration with industry leaders such as Hoya Vision, ZEISS, and PolyU's own academic-led start-up, VST. To date, over 32 million pieces have been sold across more than 20 countries and regions, benefiting millions of children and young adults suffering from myopia and demonstrating PolyU’s excellence in translating research outcomes into tangible societal benefits.
A Legacy of Visionary Leadership in Optometry
PolyU's prominence in optometry and eye care traces back to 1977 when it became the first local tertiary institution to offer optometry courses. This pioneering spirit was spearheaded by Professor George Woo, affectionately known as Hong Kong's "Father of Optometry." He championed the establishment of Hong Kong's first optometry degree programme at PolyU, and urged his colleagues to prioritise research alongside teaching, emphasising that "You can’t just teach whatever that’s existing. You have to create knowledge by doing research." This emphasis on research-driven innovation continues to shape PolyU's approach to tackling myopia.
