Temporary Closure of Sik Sik Yuen – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Optometry Centre (Wong Tai Sin Teaching and Learning Centre)

The Sik Sik Yuen – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Optometry Centre (Wong Tai Sin Teaching and Learning Centre) received a report that a staff was tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19 on 25 February. The last visit of the staff to the Centre was on 24 February.  The Centre will be closed from 25 February to 5 March 2022 for conducting thorough disinfection and cleaning. The Centre will resume service on 7 March, tentatively. 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)

Temporary Closure of The PolyU Optometry Clinic

The Optometry Clinic of PolyU received report that a staff and a student was tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19 on 23 February. Their last visit in the Optometry Clinic was on 21 February.  The Clinic will be closed on 23 February afternoon & 24 February 2022 for conducting thorough disinfection and cleaning. The Clinic will resume service on 25 February, tentatively. 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)

Dr Patrick Ting awarded Fellowship by Higher Education Academy

Dr Patrick Ting, Clinical Associate, has been awarded a Higher Education Academy Fellowship (FHEA) – an internationally recognised badge of professional success in Higher Education. The Higher Education Academy (HEA, now Advance HE) champions teaching excellence in higher education and the fellowships provide individuals with recognition of their practice, impact and leadership of teaching and learning.

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.