Jason CS YAM

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Associate Professor

MD (CUHK), MB BS (HK), MPH (HK), FRCSEd, FCOphth HK, FHKAM (Ophthalmology)

Contact :

(852) 3943 5815

yamcheuksing@cuhk.edu.hk

Request An Appoinment :

(852) 3943 5886

eyecentre@cuhk.edu.hk

Academic Appointments

    • Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
    • Head, Undergraduate Division, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
    • Dean of General Education, Chung Chi College, CUHK
    • Director, CUHK Jockey Club Myopia Prevention Programme
    • Head and Honorary Consultant, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Service, Hong Kong Eye Hospital
    • Head and Honorary Consultant, Ophthalmology Service, Hong Kong Children’s Hospital
    • Honorary Associate Consultant, New Territories East Cluster Ophthalmology Service

Biography

Dr. Jason Yam is Associate Professor & Undergraduate Division Head at Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences of CUHK, Dean of General Education at Chung Chi College, CUHK, Head of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus service at Hong Kong Eye Hospital, and Head of Ophthalmology Service at Hong Kong Children’s Hospital. He is also Director of CUHK Jockey Club Myopia Prevention Programme. Dr. Jason Yam graduated as Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Hong Kong in 2005, and received his Doctor of Medicine with Merit from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2023. He received overseas training on Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus in Great Ormond Street Hospital (2011); with Dr. David Guyton of Johns Hopkins Hospital (2011); and with Dr. Kenneth Wright in Los Angeles (2012); ocular genetics with Dr. Janey Wiggs of Harvard Medical School (2016); with Dr. Alex Levin of Wills Eye Hospital (2017); and Baylor College of Medicine at Texas Children Hospital (2017); ocular oncology and retinoblastoma with Dr. Jerry Shields and Dr. Carol Shields of Wills Eye Hospital (2017).

He serves as the Secretary-General of Asia-Pacific Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmology Society (APSPOS), Training and Education Committee Chair of International Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Council (IPOSC), Council Member of Asia-Pacific Myopia Society (APMS), Society Relations & Leadership Development Committee of International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO), Public Education Standing Committee Secretary, and Ophthalmic Education Standing Committee and Research Standing Committee of Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO), International Programme Committee of American Association for Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS), and many other international academic positions. Nationally, he serves as the Council Member of Ophthalmology Group of Chinese Paediatric Society. Locally, he serves as Vice President of Hong Kong Ophthalmological Society (HKOS), and Editor-in-Chief of the College of Ophthalmologists of Hong Kong (COHK). He served as the Congress President of the Inaugural Asia-Pacific Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmology Society Congress 2017. In 2021, he initiated the IPOSC Joint Webinar Programme, which organize a monthly joint webinar with a national member societies including countries from Egypt, Lebanon, Israel, Turkey, Russia, United Kingdom, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina India, Philippines, Japan, South Korea, and China, etc. He is elected Congress President in the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress 2026.

He had more than 160 articles in the SCI-indexed journals. He is the principal investigator of 30 research grants and external funding of 100 million HKD, including 1 CRF(Co-PI), 3 GRFs, 1 NSFC, 4 HMRFs, 1 HCPF, 1 ITF, and 2 HK Jockey Club Charities Trust Grants. He is PI of Low-concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP-1) and Low-concentration Atropine for Myopia Prevention (LAMP-2) study, which are the first placebo-controlled RCTs to provide evidence for 0.05% atropine to reduce myopia progression and to delay myopia onset respectively. This confers clinical relevance to millions of children worldwide. He is also PI of Hong Kong Children Eye Study, an epidemiological cohort of 40,000 children and their parents for detailed phenotypic and genotypic characterization. Studies led by him has been published at JAMA, Lancet Global Health, JAMA Network Open, Ophthalmology etc. He has chaired 30 symposia, and has delivered 3 award lecture, 10 keynote lectures, 100 invited lectures, 60 conference papers. He also serves as an editor in 8 international journals, including Guest Editor of Progress in Retinal and Eye Research.

In 2024, he received the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology De Ocampo Lecture Award, which is the highest award for excellent academic achievements in the whole Asia-Pacific region in clinical and/or basic eye research. In 2019, he received the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Nakajima Award for being the most outstanding young ophthalmologist under aged 40 in Asia-Pacific. He was named One of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons in Hong Kong in 2019, and was bestowed Hong Kong Humanity Award 2021, and International Myopia Conference Josh Wallman Memorial Lecture 2022, and American Academy of Ophthalmology Secretariat Award 2023. He was listed among World’s Top 2% Scientists in the field of Ophthalmology since 2022, and among Top 100 Ophthalmologists in Asia-Pacific Region in 2023. His other awards include Distinguished Young Fellow in Hong Kong Academy of Medicine (2013), Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Leadership Development Program Award (2015), Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Distinguished Service Award (2016), Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award (2016), and Hospital Authority Corporate Scholarship (2016), inaugural Asia-Pacific Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmology Society Young Investigator Award (2017), Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Outstanding Service in Prevention of Blindness (2019), Gold Medal for Best Original Research by Young Fellows in Hong Kong Academy of Medicine (2019), and Hospital Authority Kowloon Central Cluster Outstanding Team Award (as team leader) (2020), Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Senior Achievement Award (2021), Hong Kong Youth Dream-maker Award 2021, Hong Kong Volunteer Award 2021 (Group Award as team leader), and Silver Medal of Geneva Inventions Salon International (2022), CUHK Outstanding Research Impact Award (2023), CUHK Research Excellence Award (2023).

Research Areas

  1. Children Eye Studies: territory-based epidemiology, etiology, prevention, intervention, and molecular genetics of children eye diseases.
  2. Myopia: epidemiology, risk factors, genomic investigations, gene mapping and interventions in prevention of progression.
  3. Retinoblastoma: etiology and novel treatment modes.
  4. Intermittent exotropia: the clinical course, new methods in evaluation of the control, effective surgical approaches, surgical advancements, and prognostic factors of the surgical outcomes.
  5. Genetic eye diseases: phenotypic characterization, family linkage, genomic investigations, and gene mapping of early onset glaucoma, congenital glaucoma, congenital cataracts, inherited retinal diseases, inherited corneal diseases and dysfunctions.
  6. Retinopathy of prematurity: prevention, and treatment.

Academic Activities

Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus Subspecialty Liaison World Ophthalmology Congress 2018 (Spain)
Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus Host Coordinator Asia-Pacific Academy Ophthalmology Congress 2018 (Hong Kong)
Congress President Asia-Pacific Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmology Society Congress 2017 (Hong Kong)
Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus Programme Secretary Asia-Pacific Academy Ophthalmology 2017 Congress, (Singapore)
Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Programme Subspecialty Liaison World Ophthalmology Congress 2016 (Mexico)
Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus Programme Secretary Asia-Pacific Academy Ophthalmology Congress 2016 (Taipei)

Research Highlights

Accomplishments

  1. Our team has received over 100 million HKD in research funding, from University Grant Committee of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Food and Health Bureau, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, United Bank of Switzerland Optimus Foundation, and Children’s Cancer Foundation.
  2. Our team has conducted the Low-Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP-1) and the Low-concentration Atropine for Myopia Prevention (LAMP-2) studies, which are the first placebo-controlled RCTs to provide evidence for 0.05% atropine to reduce myopia progression and to delay myopia onset respectively. This has changed the treatment paradigm of myopia control worldwide, and confers clinical relevance to millions of children.
  3. Our team is conducting the Hong Kong Children Eye Study, an epidemiological cohort of more than 40,000 children and their parents for detailed phenotypic and genotypic characterization.
  4. We are the only tertiary centre in Hong Kong to manage all retinoblastoma cases. We have launched the city-wide “Hong Kong Retinoblastoma Awareness and Education Campaign” to promote early detection of retinoblastoma in Hong Kong.
  5. The PI has been awarded the prestigious Hospital Authority Corporate Scholarship on “Paediatric Ocular Genetics”, and was commissioned to launch this service in Hong Kong.

Representative Publications:

  1. Yam JC#, Zhang XJ, Zhang YZ, Yip BHK, Tang FY, Wong E, Bui CHT, Kam KW, Ng MPH, Ko STC, Yip WWK, Young AL, Tham CC, Chen LJ, Pang CP. Effect of Low-concentration Atropine Eyedrops vs Placebo on Myopia Incidence in Children: The LAMP2 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2023 Feb 14;329(6):472-481. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.24162.
  2. Wong ES, Choy RW, Zhang YZ, Chu WK, Chen LJ, Pang CP, Yam JC#. Global Retinoblastoma Survival and Globe Preservation – A Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis of Associations with Socioeconomic and Healthcare Factors. Lancet Global Health. 2022 Jan 27:S2214-109X(21)00555-6. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00555-6.
  3. Agyekum S, Chan PP, Adjei PE, Zhang Y, Huo Z, Yip BHK, Ip P, Wong ICK, Zhang W, Tham CC, Chen LJ, Zhang XJ, Pang CP, Yam JC#. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Myopia Progression Interventions in Children. JAMA Network Open. 2023 Nov 1;6(11):e2340986. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.40986.
  4. Zhang XJ, Zhang YZ, Kam KW, Tang FY, Li Y, Ng MPH, Young AL, Ip P, Tham CC, Chen LJ, Pang CP#, Yam JC#. Prevalence of Myopia in Children Before, During, and After COVID-19 Restrictions in Hong Kong. JAMA Network Open. 2023 Mar 1;6(3):e234080. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.4080.
  5. Kam KW, Chee ASH, Zhang YZ, Tang RCY, Chan JTC, Zhang XJ, Wang YM, Chan RCF, Chu WK, Ip P, Young AL, Tham CC, Pang CP, Chen LJ#, Yam JC#. Association of Maternal and Paternal Astigmatism with Child Astigmatism in the Hong Kong Children Eye Study. JAMA Network Open. 2022 Dec 1;5(12):e2247795. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.47795.
  6. Zhang Y, Zhang XJ, Yuan N, Zhang Y, Wang YM, Tang F, Ng MP, Wong ICK, Ip P, Kam KW, Young AL, Chen LJ, Tham CC, Pang CP#, Yam JC#. Analysis of Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Myopia Among Children Aged 6 to 8 Years in Hong Kong. JAMA Network Open. 2023 May 1;6(5):e2313006. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.13006.
  7. Yam JC#, Jiang Y, Tang SM, Law AK, Chan JJ, Wong E, Ko ST, Young AL, Tham CC, Chen LJ, Pang CP. Low-concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression Study (LAMP): One-year result of a Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial on Atropine 0.05%, 0.025%, and 0.01%. Ophthalmology. 2019 Jan;126(1):113-124. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2018.05.029.
  8. Yam JC#, Li FF, Zhang X, Tang SM, Yip BH, Kam KW, Ko ST, Young AL, Tham CC, Chen LJ, Pang CP. Two-Year Clinical Trial of the Low-concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) Study: Phase 2 Report. Ophthalmology. 2019 De c 21. pii: S0161-6420(19)32356-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2019.12.011.
  9. Yam JC#, Zhang XJ, Zhang YZ, Wang YM, Tang SM, Li FF, Kam KW, Ko ST, Yip BHK, Young AL, Tham CC, Chen LJ, Pang CP. Three-Year Clinical Trial of Low-concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) Study: Continued Versus Washout. Phase 3 R/eport. Ophthalmology. 2021 Oct 7:S0161-6420(21)00745-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2021.10.002.
  10. Zhang XJ, Zhang Y, Yip BHK, Kam KW, Tang F, Ling X, Ng MPH, Young AL, Wu PC, Tham CC, Chen LJ, Pang CP, Yam JC#. Five-Year Clinical Trial of Low-concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) Study: Phase 4 Report. Ophthalmology. 2024 Mar 15:S0161-6420(24)00190-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2024.03.013.
  11. Li FF, Zhang YZ, Zhang XJ, Yip BHK, Tang SM, Kam KW, Young AL, Chen LJ, Tham CC, Pang CP, Yam JC#. Age effect on treatment responses to 0.05%, 0.025%, and 0.01% atropine: Low-concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) Study. Ophthalmology. 2021 Jan 7:S0161-6420(21)00001-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.12.036.
  12. Li FF, Kam KW, Zhang YZ, Tang SM, Young AL, Chen LJ, Tham CC, Pang CP, Yam JC#. Differential Effects on Ocular Biometrics by 0.05%, 0.025%, and 0.01% Atropine in one year: Low-concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) Study. Ophthalmology. 2020 Dec;127(12):1603-1611. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.06.004.
  13. Yuan N, Li J, Tang S, Li FF, Lee CO, Ng MPH, Cheung CY, Tham CC, Pang CP, Chen LJ, Yam JC#. Association of Secondhand Smoking Exposure With Choroidal Thinning in Children Aged 6 to 8 Years: The Hong Kong Children Eye Study. JAMA Ophthalmol.2019 Oct 17:1-9. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2019.4178.
  14. Wong ES, Zhang XJ, Yuan N, Li J, Pang CP, Chen LJ, Tham CC, Cheung CY, Yam JC#. New OCT angiography metrics detects impaired macular microvasculature and correlates with decreased vision in amblyopic eyes: The Hong Kong Children Eye Study. JAMA Ophthalmol.2020 Aug 1;138(8):858-865. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.2220.
  15. Yam JC#, Jiang Y, Lee J, Li S, Zhang YZ, Sun W, Yuan N, Wang YM, Yip HKB, Kam KW, Chan HN, Zhang XJ, Young AL, Tham CC, Cheung CY, Chu WK, Pang CP, Chen LJ. The Association of Choroidal Thickening by Atropine with Treatment Effects for Myopia: Two-Year Clinical Trial of the LAMP Study. Am J Ophthalmol. 2021 Dec 20:S0002-9394(21)00638-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2021.12.014.
  16. Tang SM, Kam KW, Chen LJ, French AN, Young AL, Rose KA, Tham CC, Pang CP, Yam JC#. Independent Influence of Parental Myopia on Childhood Myopia in a Dose-related Manner in 2055 Trios: The Hong Kong Children Eye Study. Am J Ophthalmol.2020 Oct;218:199-207. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2020.05.026.
  17. Zhang X, Cheung SSL, Chan HN, Zhang Y, Wang YM, Yip BH, Kam KW, Yu M, Cheng CY, Young AL, Kwan MYW, Ip P, Chong KK, Tham CC, Chen LJ, Pang CP, Yam JCS#. Myopia Incidence and Lifestyle Changes Among School Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Population-based Prospective Study. Br J Ophthalmol. 2021 Aug 2:bjophthalmol-2021-319307. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2021-319307.
  18. Chen LJ#, Li FF, Lu SY, Zhang XJ, Kam KW, Tang SM, Tam PO, Yip WW, Young AL, Tham CC, Pang CP, Yam JC#. Association of Polymorphisms in ZFHX1B, KCNQ5 and GJD2 with Myopia Progression and polygenic risk prediction in Children: 3-Year Follow-up of the Hong Kong Children Eye Study. Br J Ophthalmol. 2021 Apr 2:bjophthalmol-2020-318708. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-318708.
  19. Zhang XJ, Chen XN, Tang FY, Szeto S, Ling XT, Lin ZX, Tham CC, Pang CP, Chen LJ#, Yam JC#. Pathogenesis of myopic choroidal neovascularization: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Surv Ophthalmol. 2023 Nov-Dec;68(6):1011-1026. doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2023.07.006. Epub 2023 Jul 28.
  20. Zhang YJ, Zhang XJ, Yuan N, Wang YM, Ip P, Chen LJ, Tham CC, Pang CP, Yam JC#. Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Ocular Health- A Systematic Review. Surv Ophthalmol. 2023 Nov-Dec;68(6):1166-1207. doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2023.07.001. Epub 2023 Jul 20.

(# corresponding author) 

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