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| HKOS 65th Anniversary |
| HKOS 60th Anniversary |
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| History The Hong Kong Ophthalmological Society (HKOS) was formed and registered on 16th August 1954 with Dr Dansey Browning as the first Chairman and 19 members on the list. This year, The Hong Kong Ophthalmological Society is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Looking into the development of ophthalmology in Hong Kong over the past six decades, one must be impressed by the tremendous advancement and rapid expansion we have made throughout these years.  The continuing growth in demand of quality eye care by the public has driven us forward. Back in the 1940s, Ophthalmology in Hong Kong was not recognized as a specialty. Many clinicians who provide ophthalmic service were Eye-ENT practitioners. Public ophthalmic service relied on private ophthalmologists working on a part-time basis in government-run clinic. After the Second World War, the Hong Kong Government employed the first Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dr Browning, a British army Colonel, to organize public ophthalmic service in Hong Kong. After one year, Dr Browning produced a report titled "Causes of Blindness in Hong Kong", which pointed out the alarming fact that 80% of the blindness in Hong Kong was preventable and curable. In 1958, to ensure the standard of ophthalmic service, the Government promulgated the Medical Registration (Amendment) Ordinance stating that "...no person unless he is a registered practitioner, shall hold himself out as being qualified to undertake the treatment of the human eye....". In the 60s, the Government Ophthalmic Service head-quartered at Yaumatei Eye Clinic was set up. Under the leadership of Dr Timothy Liu, it served as the training center for local eye doctors and offered a centralized ophthalmic service to Hong Kong citizens. The Tang Chi Ngong Eye Clinic came to into service in the 70s and become the administrative and clinical base of Government Ophthalmic Service in the Hong Kong Island District. The first academic eye team, headed by Professor Patrick Ho, was set up in 1984 under the Department of Surgery at the Prince of Wales Hospital by the Chinese University of Hong Kong. In the early 90s, the University Grants Committee decided to establish a single academic unit, namely the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, to provide under-graduate teaching for both the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Professor Mark Tso was appointed as the first Chairman. In 1992, the Yaumatei Eye Clinic completed its historic mission and the service was transferred to the Argyle Street Ophthalmic Center, later renamed by the Hospital Authority as today's Hong Kong Eye Hospital, where the academic sector is integrated with the clinical service for the public. In order to consolidate training, examination and registration of specialists, the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine was formed in 1993 and under its umbrella are colleges for various specialties. The Faculty of Ophthalmology was formed in the same year with Dr Timothy Liu elected as Dean. Since then, Hong Kong has set its own requirements and curriculum for training and examination for ophthalmologists. The first Fellowship examination in Ophthalmology was held conjointly with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in March 1994. In 1995, the Faculty matured to form the College of Ophthalmologists of Hong Kong (COHK) and Dr Timothy KC Liu was elected as the first President. All through the years, HKOS and COHK work closely together towards a high standard of ophthalmic practice in our community. The dedicated efforts from the academic, public and private sectors all contribute to this accomplishment of our profession.  With increasing number of ophthalmologists and other ophthalmic professionals in Hong Kong, HKOS, being the earliest ophthalmic professional body established, has positioned itself as the core that binds all of us in the field of eye care. These included ophthalmologist specialists, ophthalmologists under training, ophthalmic nurses, orthoptists and optometrists. The Society always strives to provide platforms for continuous medical education. In 1989, HKOS organized its first scientific meeting, which was a two-day event. This has since then become an annual event to be held every December. It offers good opportunities for exchange of professional knowledge and has received international recognition with delegates from mainland China and overseas. The series of open lectures held in conjunction with COHK and the Hong Kong Association of Private Eye Surgeons were another important occasions for sharing of expertise. Apart from local meetings, members of HKOS also actively participate in international conferences. The Society hosted the 9th Congress of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) in Hong Kong in 1983 with great success. In 2008, The World Ophthalmology Congress co-hosted by International Council of Ophthalmology, APAO, COHK and HKOS was well-attended by over 10000 delegates from all over the world. In 2012, the Society successfully bid the APAO Congress to be held in Hong Kong again in 2018. In the past decade, HKOS has worked in collaboration with COHK and non-governmental organizations in organizing public education campaign and screening programs on major and common eye diseases, like dry eye, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Information on eye care were also disseminated via our website launched in 2003 and various newspaper columns starting in 2012. Through all these channels, our fellow members are dedicated to promote awareness on eye care in our community. Last but not least, a main objective of the Society is to bring our members together through a spectrum of sports and social functions. Events that have been organized in the past and in this year for celebration of the 60th Anniversary include soccer match, bowling competition, dragon boat race, singing competition, photography competition, hiking, painting and wine-tasting etc. A biannual internal publication, "Eye Opener", first published in January 2012, was in place to facilitate members' communication and to highlight interesting personal stories of individual members. The Hong Kong Ophthalmological Society is now one of the most active and prominent medical groups in Hong Kong. The success of the Society was the results of the concerted effort of our members, from the private and the public, young and senior, hero and anonymous. Looking into the future, the Society will continue to serve as a window for international collaboration as well as a bridge for members from different sectors of ophthalmology. We are committed to work in unity to uphold the professional standard of ophthalmic practice in Hong Kong and to promote among the public awareness of common and sight-threatening eye disease. With passion and determination, we shall overcome challenges, internal and external, local and global, joining hands in hands. We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our constituent members for their support and contribution to the Society throughout the years. We salute to all those who have devoted their time and effort for the development of our profession. Dr LI Yuen Mei, Emmy Dr Lee Yau Wing, Vincent List of Presidents
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© Copyright 2002-2024 The Hong Kong Ophthalmological Society. All rights reserved. |
Phone: (852) 2761 9128 Fax: (852) 2715 0089 Email: info@hkos.org.hk,hkossecretariat@gmail.com |