HKSH Department of Ophthalmology Striving for Best Vision for 40 Years

Dr. Walton LI

Chief Executive Officer, HKSH Medical Group

Medical Superintendent, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital

Head, Department of Ophthalmology

Honorary Consultant in Ophthalmology

Specialist in Ophthalmology   

After completing my fellowship in Corneal and External Ocular Disease at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA, I returned to Hong Kong and set up the Department of Ophthalmology at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital in 1980. The Department started with just a few members, and I had to work as an optometrist as well back then.

With only 8 to 10 cases each year, corneal transplants were not commonly performed in Hong Kong in the early 1980s. Most of them were carried out by me back then. I was also among the pioneers of microsurgery in Hong Kong.

Introducing LASIK to Hong Kong

I have become one of the many admirers of Prof. Guy Hugh CHAN, a world-renowned LASIK pioneer, since my first meeting him at an academic symposium. Teaching at the Department of Ophthalmology of Temple University in Pennsylvania, Prof. CHAN was among the very few Chinese professors in the US universities in the 1970s. He specialised in cataract and artificial lens implantation, corneal transplant, glaucoma surgery, paediatric eye problems and adult strabismus. 

Prof. CHAN joined us in 1996 as the founding director of our Refractive Surgery Centre (RSC). RSC became Hong Kong’s first accredited LASIK training centre in 1997, paving way for our collaborations with HKU’s Faculty of Medicine in training medical students since 1998 and with the College of Ophthalmologists of Hong Kong in advanced specialist training from 2001.

Inspired by Prof. CHAN, the 3T Principles, namely Teaching, Teamwork and Trust, have long been the guidance of our success. We have continued to develop over the past decades, not only with advanced equipment and technology, but also by building up strong expertise in wide-ranging subspecialties, including paediatric ophthalmology, refractive surgery, glaucoma, corneal diseases, vitreoretinal diseases, oculoplastics and neuro-ophthalmology. Supported by a team of optometrists, nurses, technicians and other personnel, our 16 Specialists in Ophthalmology, each being a recognised authority in his or her own discipline, can achieve synergistic effect and clinical partnership with a common vision, shared expertise and excellent teamwork. 

Looking Forward

Recently opened at One Pacific Place, Admiralty, the HKSH Eye Surgery Centre marks another milestone in terms of service expansion. The Centre is also staffed by our Ophthalmologists, experienced nurses and paramedical staff, catering for different eye care needs in a one-stop fashion at an easily accessible location. With operating rooms abiding by stringent infection control standards, it provides a wide spectrum of eye-related procedures and surgeries in a safe and ambulatory environment.

Looking forward, we will continue to strengthen our service and expertise with more top-notch specialists and advanced facilities. We will also spare no effort in setting a major platform for academic exchange, and remain as committed as ever to promoting specialist training with the Mainland institutions.