Biography

Dr. Yam is an Assistant Professor at Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and is currently the Academic Coordinator of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus service at Hong Kong Eye Hospital.

Dr. Yam graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong. He obtained the Master of Public Health (MPH) and subsequently became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCS). He subspecialises in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. He received overseas training in Pediatric Ophthalmology in Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, and Strabismology with Prof. David Guyton in Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, and finished an international fellowship with Prof. Kenneth Wright in Los Angeles.

Dr Yam serves as a Council Member in the Asia-Pacific Strabismus and Pediatric Ophthalmology Society, and in the Hong Kong Ophthalmological Society. He is very active in training and teaching, and is currently the Coordinator of the Ophthalmology Undergraduate Medical Teaching in the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and member of the Training Sub-committee in the College of Ophthalmologist of Hong Kong. He is also the Coordinator of the Public Education Program in the Department.

He had more than 20 publications and co-authored 1 book. He had delivered more than 30 presentations and invited lectures in international conferences. He also serves as an editor in the Hong Kong Journal of Ophthalmology and Asia Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology, and reviewers of 10 international journals. His awards include Hong Kong Society of Community Medicine Prize (2003), Dr Timothy Kai-Ching Liu Memorial Fund Award (2009), Distinguished Young Fellow in HKAM (2013), Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Tano Travel Grant (2014), World Ophthalmology Congress Travel Grant (2014), APAO Leadership Development Program Award (2014-2015).

Research interests

1. Myopia
   Epidemiology, risk factors in myopia progression, and effective interventions in preventing its progression.
2. Genomic studies and gene mapping of pediatric eye disorders such as intermittent exotropia, accommodative esotropia etc.
3. Intermittent and infantile exotropia : the clinical course, new methods in evaluation of the control, effective surgical approaches, and prognostic factors of the surgical outcomes.
4. Congenital cataract
5. Retinoblastoma : the surgical outcome of different treatment strategies, and quality of life of retinoblastoma patients and their family.

Representative Publications (*corresponding author)

1. Au CL, Tang SM, Rong SS, Chen LJ, Yam JC*. Association between hyperglycaemia and retinopathy of prematurity: a systemic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2015 Mar 13; 5:9091.
2. Luk A, Yam JC*, Lau HH, Yip WW, Young AL. Surgical Outcome of Medial Rectus Resection for Recurrent Exotropia using a novel surgical formula. J Ophthalmol. 2015;2015:758463.
3. Lam CP, Yam JC*, Lau FH, Wong CY, Yu CB, Fan DS, Lau WW. SR and LR union suture for the treatment of myopic strabismus fixus: is scleral fixation suture necessary? BioMed Research International. 2015; 2015:470473
4. Yam JC*, Chong GS, Wu PK, Wong US, Chan CW, Ko ST. Predictive factors affecting the short term and long term exodrift in patients with intermittent exotropia after bilateral rectus muscle recession and its effect on surgical outcome. BioMed Research International. 2014;2014:482093
5. Lin S, Congdon N, Yam JC, Huang Y, Qiu K, Ma D, Chen B, Li L, Zhang M. Alcohol use and positive screening results for depression and anxiety are highly prevalent among Chinese children with strabismus. Am J Ophthalmol. 2014 Apr;157(4):894-900
6. Yam JC*, Chong GS, Wu PK, Wong US, Chan CW, Ko ST. Fusional convergence in assessing the control of intermittent exotropia: a prospective study. J AAPOS. 2013 Aug;17(4):347-51.
7. Yam JC*, Chong GS, Wu PK, Wong US, Chan CW, Ko ST. Preoperative factors predicting the surgical outcome of bilateral lateral rectus recession surgery in patients with infantile exotropia. Jpn J Ophthalmol. 2013 Sep; 57(5):481-5.
8. Yam JC*, Chong GS, Wu PK, Wong US, Chan CW, Ko ST. Preoperative factors predicting the surgical response of bilateral lateral rectus recession surgery in patients with infantile exotropia. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus, 2013 Jul-Aug;50(4):245-50.
9. Yam JC*, Wu PK, Wong US, Chan CW, Ko ST. Long-term ocular alignment after bilateral lateral rectus recession in children with infantile and intermittent exotropia. J AAPOS. 2012 Jun;16(3):274-9
10. Yam JC*, Wu PK, Ko ST, Wong US, Chan CW. Refractive Changes After Pediatric Intraocular Lens Implantation in Hong Kong Children. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2012 May 8:1-6