Prof Ian MORGAN, Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University in Canberra, and the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre in Guangzhou, China, visited the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (DOVS), The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) on 25 August 2023 and conducted the CUHK Advances in Ophthalmology (AinO) series lecture, titled “Future Directions in Myopia Research”.

Prof Morgan’s lecture stressed the importance of promoting increased outdoor time as a public health intervention in schools to reduce the prevalence of myopia, and the significance of employing clinical approaches for myopia control to limit its progression.  The lecture was moderated by the Department’s Associate Professor Dr Jason CS YAM.  Prof Morgan shared valuable insights on the future developmental directions in myopia research and engaged in a fruitful discussion with the Panel Discussants, including Prof Calvin CP PANG, Dr Wilson WK YIP, Prof Guy LJ CHEN, Dr Jason CS YAM, Dr ZHANG Xiujuan, and Dr TANG Fangyao.

Prof Morgan’s primary research focus lies in the study of myopia, short-sightedness, vision, and public health.  His major contributions include over-turning the belief that myopia is primarily influenced by genetic factors and highlighting the significant role played by environmental factors, the identification of increasing time spent outdoors as a preventive measure against myopia, and his analysis of the role of excessive educational pressures associated with the East Asia model of education in causing the current myopia epidemics.  He also strongly advocates the need for education reform to support myopia prevention and control.

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