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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has formed a collaborative partnership with an eye care brand to establish the PolyU-Rohto Centre of Research Excellence for Eye Care. The inauguration of this centre took place at the “Leading Research in Eye Fatigue, Empowering the Joy of Seeing” launch ceremony held in Hong Kong.
During this event, PolyU and the company jointly unveiled the “Promoting Healthy Vision and Prioritizing Standardized Diagnosis of Eye Fatigue” advocacy paper, which is aimed at improving eye health within the broader community.
Distinguished attendees at this event included the President of PolyU; the Vice President (Research and Innovation); the Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation); the Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences; the Director of the PolyU-Rohto Centre of Research Excellence for Eye Care and Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology at the School of Optometry; the President of the brand’s parent company’s Asia Pacific arm; and the General Manager of Sales and Marketing at the parent company.
The establishment of the PolyU-Rohto Centre of Research Excellence for Eye Care represents a groundbreaking development in the optometry industry. The President of PolyU stated that the School of Optometry is globally renowned as a leading institution in the fields of optometry and vision science. Additionally, he highlighted that PolyU is the sole university in Hong Kong to provide optometry education.
The establishment of various research centres related to ophthalmology, including the Centre for Eye and Vision Research, which was formed in partnership with the University of Waterloo in Canada, with support from the HKSAR Government.
Looking ahead, the Centre will bring together teams of ophthalmic experts to conduct research and testing in multiple locations. They aim to establish collaborative networks with various regions to develop eye health and care technologies. The ultimate objective is to provide comprehensive medical and care solutions for individuals suffering from eye fatigue.
The Director of the new centre and a prominent scholar in the international optometry field highlighted the significance of addressing the growing cases of eye fatigue at the launch ceremony. He said that owing to the rapid digital evolution and fast-paced lifestyles, the prevalence of eye fatigue issues is on the rise within society. Such problems have the potential to significantly affect both the quality of life and work productivity, yet their significance tends to be underestimated by many.
Eye fatigue, which arises from extended periods of eye usage, already affects approximately 20-30% of children and adolescents, as well as 50-80% of adults, including university students and office workers who extensively use computers. However, the development of an innovative and standardised treatment system for eye fatigue remains a work in progress.
Presently, the traditional diagnosis of eye fatigue relies heavily on subjective questionnaires, while treatment methods vary, lacking a unified objective diagnostic standard and evaluation. This often results in eye fatigue being overlooked by both patients and clinical practitioners, leading to a relatively limited understanding of this condition, both in terms of public awareness and academic research. Therefore, there is a critical need to prioritise high-quality research to address and resolve eye fatigue issues effectively.
PolyU and the company have also partnered to introduce the Eye Fatigue advocacy paper. This initiative, centred around the “Know-Diagnose-Explore-Engage” framework, aims to enhance public awareness of eye fatigue. Its objectives are to establish and promote globally unified diagnostic standards and develop a multi-level diagnosis system. The initiative also seeks to explore new prevention methods and treatment approaches. Through cooperation with various sectors, the Centre is committed to creating a healthy environment for eye health, promoting healthy eye habits, and mitigating the impact of visual fatigue on public eye health, thereby enhancing the quality of life for individuals.
OpenGov Asia reported earlier that The Faculty of Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CU Medicine) and a Japanese manufacturer of optics and reprography products formalised a collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU aims to bolster their joint efforts in advancing endoscopy and laparoscopy technologies, fostering the transition from innovative research to practical clinical applications.
