Prof. Carly LAM

Adjunct Professor

Carly has a long-standing research interest in myopia and has published over 50 papers in this topic. She was among the first to record the high prevalence of myopia (reaching 80%) in the Hong Kong school children during the early 1990s. As one of the founding members of the Centre for Myopia Research in the School of Optometry, Carly further focus on identifying possible factors causing myopia development and seek for myopia control options. Carly has also researched into the treatment for amblyopia and binocular vision anomalies in young children.

+852 2766 6091
carly.lam@polyu.edu.hk

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Biography

Professor Carly Lam joined The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 1986. She completed her Bachelors and Masters degrees at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (The University of Manchester), UK. She obtained her PhD from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She was appointed Head of School in 2007 and served till 2013.

Professor Lam has long-standing research interests in the areas of myopia control and prevention, children’s vision, and binocular vision and amblyopia training. She has a proven track record of securing funding from various sources, which include external competitive grants (for example, GRF, HMRF, RIF, InnoHK@Health) and over $18M of industrial grants. Professor Lam is also active in knowledge transfer activities with numerous patents granted and filed in Hong Kong, mainland China and other countries.

Professor Lam is currently the President of the Asia Pacific Council of Optometry, a Member of the College of Optometrists (UK) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometrists. Prof. Lam has served in APCO and the World Council of Optometry (WCO) in various roles for more than 10 years.

She serves as the deputy Chair of the Scientific Board of CEVR. She also serves as a member of the Editorial Board of Asia Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology, Annals of Eye Sciences, Review Board of the Journal of Optometry and Visual Performance and has served as a member of the editorial board of Clinical and Experimental Optometry during 2007 to 2013. She is the honorary advisor of The Hong Kong Society of Professional Optometrists, and an Honorary Member of The Association of Private Practice Optometrists. She has served as a member of the Grant Review Board of the Research Council of the Food and Health Bureau of the HKSAR.

Professor 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.

She is currently the external examiner for Optometry at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia. She is also currently an Adjunct Professor at Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences at University of Waterloo, Canada and has served as Visiting Professor at Anglia Ruskin University, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Nankai University Eye Hospital and Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Management and Science University and Tianjin Vocational Institute.

Professor Lam received the OPO Bernard Gilmartin Award from the College of Optometrists for Research Excellence in 2015, the Grand Prix of the 46th International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva, in recognition of her contributions to the development of the Defocused Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) lens for myopia control in children in 2018, and the Gold Medal and a special grand prize at the 39th International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva in 2011 for the invention of the DISC lens.

Research Overview

One of the important milestones of Carly’s research was the development of the Defocus Incorporated Soft Contact (DISC) lens and Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segment (DIMS) spectacle lens for myopia control; these methods can slow myopia progression as much as 60% over a two year randomized clinical trial study respectively. Both the DISC and DIMS lens method has now obtained patents from a number of countries.

Academic and Professional Experience

Immediate Past President, Asia Pacific Council of Optometry (2023 – present)
President, Asia Pacific Council of Optometry (2021 - 2023)
Adjunct Professor, School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Canada (1/7/2018 – 30/6/2025)
Vice President, Asia Pacific Council of Optometry (2019 – 2021)
Member, Board of Director, World Council of Optometry (2/2008 –2015 & 2020 – 2023)
Member, Education Committee, World Council of Optometry (2013 – 2021)
Vice Chair, Education Committee, World Council of Optometry, (2015- 2017)
Visiting Professor of Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education in Anglia Ruskin University, UK (2010- 2019)
Visiting Professor, Department of Optometry and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Management and Science University (MSU), Malaysia (2014 – 2016)
Visiting Professor, Nankai University Eye Hospital and Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, China (2013 – 2015)
Visiting Professor, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, China (22/9/2011 – 21/9/2013)
Secretary-General, Asia Pacific Council of Optometry (1/2010 – 2/2014)
Fellowship Committee Chair, World Council of Optometry (6/2009 – 2014)
Visiting Professor, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, PR China (12/2008 – 11/2010)
Visiting Professor, College of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University, PR China (3/2008 – 3/2010)
Visiting Professor, Tianjin Vocational Institute, PR China (3/2008 – 2012)
Secretary, Asia Pacific Council of Optometry (1/2008 – 2/2014)
Teaching consultant, Department of Optometry and Vision Science, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre, Sun Yat-Sen University, August 2005 – August 2007.
Sector/Subject specialist, Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) (6/2006 – 6/2012)

Research Interests

Research Output

Choi KY, Chun RKM, Tang WC, To CH, Lam CS, Chan HH. Evaluation of an Optical Defocus Treatment for Myopia Progression Among Schoolchildren During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(1):e2143781. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.43781
Zhu Y, Bian JF, Lu DQ, To CH, Lam CS-Y, Li KK, Yu FJ, Gong BT, Wang Q, Ji XW, Zhang HM, Nian H, Lam TC and Wei RH (2022) Alteration of EIF2 Signaling, Glycolysis, and Dopamine Secretion in Form-Deprived Myopia in Response to 1% Atropine Treatment: Evidence From Interactive iTRAQ-MS and SWATH-MS Proteomics Using a Guinea Pig Model. Front. Pharmacol. 13:814814. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.814814
Lam CSY, Tang WC, Lee PH, Zhang HY, Qi H, Hasegawa K, To CH. 2021. Myopia control effect of defocus incorporated multiple segments (DIMS) spectacle lens in Chinese children: results of a 3-year follow-up study. British Journal of Ophthalmology. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-317664
Lam CSY, Tang WC, Qi H, Radhakrishnan H, Hasegawa K, To CH, Charman WN. Effect of defocus incorporated multiple segments spectacle lens wear on visual function in myopic Chinese children. Trans Vis Sci Tech. 2020;9(9):11, https://doi.org/10.1167/tvst.9.9.11
Zhang HY, Lam CSY, Tang WC, Leung M, To CH. Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments spectacle lenses changed the relative peripheral refraction: a 2-year randomized clinical trial. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2020;61(5):53. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.61.5.53
Lam CSY, Tang WC, Tse DY, et al. Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) spectacle lenses slow myopia progression: a 2-year randomised clinical trial. British Journal of Ophthalmology 2020;104:363-368. .(BJO Published Online First: 29 May 2019. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2018-313739)
Gifford KL, Richdale K, Kang P, Aller TA, Lam CS, Liu YM, Michaud L, Mulder J, Orr JB, Rose KA, Saunders KJ, Seidel D, Tideman JWL, Sankaridurg P. IMI – Clinical Management Guidelines Report. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2019;60(3):M184-M203. doi: 10.1167/iovs.18-25977.
Zhang N, Liu L, Yang B, Ma W, Wang X, Ye W, Yang X, Lam CSY. Higher-Order Aberrations in Children and Adolescents of Southwest China. Optom Vis Sci. 2018 Jan;95(1):53-59. DOI: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000001160
Gao TY, Guo CX, Babu RJ, Black JM, Bobier WR, Chakraborty A, Dai S, Hess RF, Jenkins M, Jiang Y, Kearns LS, Kowal L, Lam CSY, Pang PCK, Parag V, Pieri R, Raveendren RN, South J, Staffieri SE, Wadham A, Walker N, Thompson B; BRAVO Study Team. Effectiveness of a Binocular Video Game vs Placebo Video Game for Improving Visual Functions in Older Children, Teenagers, and Adults With Amblyopia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2018 Feb 1;136(2):172-181. DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2017.6090
Lam CS, Tang WC, Tse DY, et al. Defocus Incorporated Soft Contact (DISC) lens slows myopia progression in Hong Kong Chinese schoolchildren: a 2-year randomised clinical trial. Br J Ophthalmol 2014;98(1):40-5. doi:10/1136 bjophthalmol-2013-303914.