Public education through media is indispensable in promoting public awareness of visual health. The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (DOVS) of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has recently participated in several radio and TV programmes of the Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) to enhance public education of eye care.

Prof Clement CY THAM, Chairman of the Department, has recently given an interview to the RTHK TV31 Programme ″Doctor And You″ to share about his glaucoma research, teaching and clinical services at CUHK DOVS as well as his international services in professional societies, including the Secretary General and CEO of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO).

The APAO is the largest supranational ophthalmic organisation, comprising 25 national member societies and 11 subspecialty member societies in the Asia-Pacific region.  As the APAO Congress Committee Chair, Prof Tham has played a pivotal role in organising every annual APAO Congress since 2009. Prof Tham is optimistic that through collaborative efforts of APAO members, the standard of ophthalmic education and training in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in those developing countries, can be substantially improved.  The work of APAO will improve the visual health of the regionwide and even worldwide population.

In the two-episode TV programme, Prof Tham also talked about using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify high-risk patients of developing glaucoma at an early stage, and the latest ophthalmic microsurgical training for young eye doctors.

Prof Tham stressed that early detection and treatment are crucial to control the progression of glaucoma and minimise the irrecoverable visual loss caused by the disease. It is therefore important to educate the general public about this eye disease and its associated risk factors.

The TV Programme was filmed at the Department′s teaching and research facilities, including the CUHK Eye Centre and the CUHK Ophthalmic Microsurgical Training Centre situated at the Hong Kong Eye Hospital.

″Doctor And You″  – Prof Clement CY THAM

港台《醫生與你 – 醫學．人》：譚智勇（上集）, 25/04/2023 港台《醫生與你 – 醫學．人》：譚智勇（下集）, 02/05/2023

In addition, DOVS professors supported a six-episode programme series on ophthalmology in the RTHK programme ″Healthpedia″ broadcast on RTHK Radio 1 and TV31 from January to March 2023. The series covers a range of common eye diseases, such as eyelid tumours, glaucoma, children myopia, macular disease, and uveitis.

″Healthpedia″ – Ophthalmology Series

港台《精靈一點》：眼瞼腫瘤與手術, 18/01/2023 Topic:                          Eyelid tumors and surgery Guest speaker:          Dr Kelvin KL CHONG

港台《精靈一點》：人工智能與青光眼, 25/01/2023 Topic:                          Artificial Iintelligence and glaucoma Guest speakers:        Dr Carol YL CHEUNG and Dr Poemen PM CHAN

港台《精靈一點》：小兒眼科 — 前沿近視防控與疫情下學童視力健康, 01/02/2023 Topic:                          Children myopia control and pupils′ visual health during the pandemic Guest speakers:        Prof Calvin CP PANG and Dr Jason CS YAM

港台《精靈一點》：虹膜炎/葡萄膜炎與治療, 08/02/2023 Topic:                          Uveitis and therapy Guest speakers:         Dr Simon KH SZETO and Dr CHU Wai Kit

港台《精靈一點》：黃斑點疾病與手術, 15/02/2023 Topic:                          Macular Disease and Surgery Guest speaker:          Prof Guy LJ CHEN

港台《精靈一點》：小兒青光眼, 15/03/2023 Topic:                          Childhood glaucoma Guest speakers:         Prof Clement CY THAM and Dr Poemen PM CHAN

DOVS strives to cultivate a broader understanding of visual health in society through media outreach. We hope that by increasing public awareness about the prevention, early detection, and timely treatment of eye diseases, we can curb the prevalence of eye diseases in Hong Kong and beyond.

Click here to view more media interviews by DOVS Professors.