Optometry in

HONG KONG

Interview Summary

Over the Christmas break, I emailed two optometrists and interviewed Dr Carly Lam on the phone and Dr Frank Thorn in person.  I chose Dr Lam because she is the programme leader of the Department of Optometry and Radiology in the Hong Kong Polytechnic Institute.  She is also involved with some research projects with Dr Thorn.  I interviewed Dr Thorn because compared to the other faculty members in our school, he is more familiar with the optometry situation in Hong Kong.  Also, he had just recently returned from a myopia conference held in Hong Kong.  Last March, Dr Thorn was invited to the city as an external reviewer of the Hong Kong Polytechnic Institute’s Department of Optometry and Radiology.  The review involved with a lot of epidemiological studies.  I felt that he could give me some input about optometry in Hong Kong in the perspective of an American optometrist. 

Existence                                                               

The optometry in Hong Kong is not as popular as the optometry in North America.  People usually go to local optical stores for cheap eye examinations.  Moreover, optometric visits are considered to be luxurious.  Since patients are not enrolled in any medical plan, they are not required to return for annual eye checkups. 

After interviewing Dr Lam, I was quite discouraged because the optometrists in Hong Kong only earn an average of HK$15,000-$17,000 per month (USD$1900-$2200) which is the average income earned by fresh graduates.  Of course, the salary is dependent on the amount of experience and location of service.  The optometry in Hong Kong is not as popular as the optometry in North America.  People usually go to local optical stores for cheap eye examinations.  Moreover, optometric visits are considered to be luxurious. Besides making prescriptions, other ocular diseases can be diagnosed by general practitioners or ophthalmologists, which increase many restrictions to optometrists.  Moreover, since patients are not enrolled in any medical plan, they do not need to return to their optometrists for annual eye checkup. 

Dr Thorn, on the other hand, gave me a lighter touch of encouragement.  He said the optometry in China is developing extremely rapidly.  Besides America, the optometrists are provided so much more opportunities than the other countries.  Although Hong Kong is a part of China, the significant difference between the optometry in China and Hong Kong is because it is still under a different system than the mother country.  Hence, the optometrists of this Specialized Administrative Region are restricted in prescribing drugs and performing lasic surgeries.

 Demand

Regardless, optometrists have an optimistic career in the future because there is always a steady demand for health-care services.  Dr Thorn is impressed with the people's attitude and interest in optometry. 

Education                                                                          

            Although optometry is not as well known as ophthalmology in Hong Kong, Dr Lam is determined to educate the public.  Furthermore, there are many local optometric organizations that host events to raise the awareness of eye health and emphasize the existence of optometry.  In no time, optometry will be better recognized in Hong Kong.

Reference:

Frank Thorn, OD, PhD                                  Carly Lam, MSc, PhD, MCOptom, FAAO

Professor of Vision Science                            Programme Leader of Optometry & Radiology

New England College of Optometry               The Hong Kong Polytechnic Institute
Tel: 617-236-6237                                         Tel: 852- 2766-5111 ext 6091

Fax: 617-369-1740                                        Fax: 852-2764-3374