Ophthalmology in Hong Kong

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine and surgery that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. Medically trained doctors who care for patients who have eye and vision conditions are called ophthalmologists and are the only practitioners diagnosed and trained to treat all eye and vision problems. Their practice is very diverse, dealing with a wide range of issues and clinical conditions. Some of the most common conditions that they treat and manage include:

• Minor and major eye injuries
• Infectious eye disease
• Dry eyes
• Proptosis (bulged eyes)
• Glaucoma 
• Cataracts 
• Corneal pathology 
• Retinal problems, such as bleeding and detachment or tears of the retina
• Squints 
• Eye-related neurological problems
• Excessive tearing
• Intraocular inflammation
• Chronic eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

An ophthalmologist can offer a wide range of medical services, including surgical eye procedures. Some of the most common procedures that ophthalmologists perform are as follows:

• Eye examinations.
• Specialized tests, such as ultrasonography of the eyes and optical coherence tomography (OCT).
• Refractive surgery to correct vision, such as LASIK.
• Cataract surgery.
• Glaucoma surgery.
• Cancer treatment.
• Reconstructive surgery to repair birth abnormalities or trauma, such as crossed eyes.
• Neoplasm removal.
• Corneal transplants.
• Repairing torn or detached retinas.
• Strabismus surgery.
• Oculoplastic surgery (plastic surgery around the eye).
• Prescribing and fitting glasses and contact lenses.

How Long Should I Stay in Hong Kong?

Your length of stay depends on the type of treatment you undergo. In general, you may need to stay in Hong Kong for at least a week or to let your eyes recover and to attend follow-up checkups, where your ophthalmologist checks your condition and make sure that your eyes are healing properly. If everything is fine, they will allow you to leave for home. However, for some surgery, such as retinal detachment surgery, you should avoid flying until your eyes have fully healed. Therefore, it is best that you wait 3 to 4 weeks, sometimes even longer, before you travel home.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery time depends on the type of surgery you underwent, your age, and overall health. It is generally recommended to rest your eyes for a few days. With LASIK, you may be able to return to work after a day. After a corneal transplant, you should wait for 2 to 3 weeks until you go back to work. 

What Aftercare is Required?

Your ophthalmologist will give you instructions to care for your eye after the procedure. It is crucial that you follow all of them to have a quick recovery and obtain optimum results. To keep the result or to prevent complications, you will need to make some lifestyle changes, such as avoid smoking and staying active. You also need to attend regular checkups, typically once a year, with your local eye doctor or your ophthalmologist in Hong Kong.

What's the Success Rate?

Thanks to the continuous advancement of ophthalmology, eye treatments, and surgeries are now highly successful and safe. For instance, the latest research of LASIK showed that it has a 99% success rate in achieving 20/40 vision or better, whereas the success rate of corneal transplant is as high as 90%. However, it is important to be aware of the risks and side effects of eye treatments and surgeries, such as dry eyes, temporary visual problems, overcorrections, under correction, astigmatism, regression, and, very rarely, vision loss.

Are there Alternatives?

For some eye problems, you may be able to go to an optometrist as an alternative. However, if your conditions need to be treated through surgery, your optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist.

Ophthalmology in and around Hong Kong

About Hong Kong

The former British colony became a special administrative region of China in 1997, when Britain's 99-year lease of the New Territories, north of Hong Kong Island, expired. Hong Kong is governed under the principle of "one country, two systems", under which China has agreed to give the region a high degree of autonomy and to preserve its economic and social systems for 50 years from the date of the handover.

Hong Kong welcomes an ever-increasing number of medical tourists each year, many of which travel for Ophthalmology procedures. Hong Kong is a well-established hub for medical tourism, although it is better known for its quality and cutting-edge procedures than for cost.

Popular Parts of Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a blend of a dynamic cultural landscape with an astonishing skyline, glamorous shopping, as well as one of the world’s top culinary destinations. 

• Victoria Peak (The Peak) offers the best view of Hong Kong’s modern skyline. It is the highest point on Hong Kong Island and the most visited spots by tourists. You can ride the tram to the top where you will find the Peak Tower and Peak Galleria. The peak is covered by a large park filled with incredible greenery.  
• Big Buddha (Tian Tan Buddha Statue) is located in Lantau Island. It is one of the largest Buddha statues and took 12 years to complete. It is the perfect place for tourists who wish to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Surrounded by forest and ocean, the statue gives an incredible view. The best way to reach the Buddha is by riding the Ngong Ping Cable car which will take you on a spectacular ride over the forest.
• Wong Tai Sin Temple is one of the most popular temples in Hong Kong. It was named after the famous monk of yore, Wong Tai Sin. It is said that he has the ability to punish evils, heal the wounded, rescue the dying, and grant whatever is requested. The temple is also known as Sik Sik Yuen and has a traditional Chinese temple style. 
• Temple Street Night Market is the best night market for tourists. Starting at 6.00 pm, it is the place to go if you want to taste Hong Kong’s street food. You can also find vendors selling gadgets, trinkets, clothing, household goods, jewelry, and traditional Chinese crafts. The place is brimming with atmosphere and it has served as the backdrop to many movies.
• Hong Kong Disneyland is a wonderful world for any Disney lovers. The park is divided into seven lands: Adventureland, Grizzly Gulch, Main Street, Mystic Point, Fantasy Land, Toy Story Land, and Tomorrowland. Here, you will find various adventures, parades, and musicals. In the evening, you can watch the fireworks over the castle.
• Star Ferry is a beloved icon of the city. It is said that your visit to Hong Kong will never be complete without cruising on the famous ferry. You can see the sparkling landscape of the city while enjoying the refreshing breeze.

Weather and Climate in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s weather is influenced by the monsoon subtropical climate. The temperature is mostly mild all year round. May to September are the warmest months with an average temperature of 33 °C while mid-December to February are the coldest months with the temperature falling to 10 °C. Spring starts from March and ends in early May and the weather during this season is pleasant with many sunny days, but you can also have foggy, rainy, and stormy days. 

The summer in Hong Kong is hot and humid with a perpetual threat of rain showers, thunderstorms, and sometimes even typhoons. Summer lasts for around four months from May to September. With August as the wettest month in the city.

The best time to visit Hong Kong is in the autumn, starting from October to early December when the days are generally sunny and the temperatures range from 22 °C to 28 °C. Winter is the holiday season in the city and the average temperature is around 16 °C to 18 °C but it can drop under 10 °C.

Getting Around in Hong Kong

The main gateway to Hong Kong is the Hong Kong International Airport. The airport is built on reclaimed land on the island of Chek Lap Kok and it serves international destinations to almost every major city in the world, including, Dubai, Amsterdam, Seoul, Canada, Singapore, and Sydney. For affordable travel, budget airlines such as AirAsia, Eastar Jet, and IndiGo are available. There are a wide variety of public transport services to and from the airport. The best options are Airport Express, public buses, and taxis.

To get around Hong Kong, it is best to purchase Tourist Day Tickets which gives you unlimited access to the main MTR and certain Rail lines for HK$65. If you are planning to stay longer in the city, the Octopus Card will be a big help. The card is reusable and can be used for almost every public transportation mode and you can buy the card for HK$150.

One of the fastest and easiest ways to get around the city is by the MTR (Mass Transit Railways) and it is one of the most advanced metro systems on the planet. The MTR operates 11 lines from 06.00 am to 01.00 am. The fare ranges from HK$3.6 to HK$52.6 depending on the distance. 

The public bus is a great way to explore Hong Kong, especially the south side of the island and the New Territories. Most buses are double-decker and air-conditioned and it is an affordable way to get around the city and the fares will vary based on the distance traveled. Other public transportation modes such as tram and ferry are also available.

If you need a more flexible way of travel, taxis are easy to find and offer excellent value. There are three types of taxis, the red taxis operate throughout the city except for Lantau Island and the fares start at HK$24. The green taxis only operate in the New Territories and the fares start at HK$20.50. The blue taxis serve Lantau Island and the fares start at HK$19.

Tourist Visas in Hong Kong

Citizens of around 170 countries and territories may visit and stay in Hong Kong without a visa for up to 180 days. Other countries not listed in the visa-free entry such as Albania, Armenia, and Cambodia need to apply and obtain a visa before entering the country. All visitors must have a passport valid for at least one to six months beyond the date of entry to Hong Kong. Visitors can apply for a visa from their nearest Chinese embassy or consulate.

Additional Information

1. Local Currency: The official currency is the Hong Kong Dollar. US$1 converts to HK$7.78.
2. Money & Payments: Tourists can find ATMs almost everywhere, and most ATMs are linked up to international money systems such as Maestro, Cirrus, and Visa Electron. Credit cards are widely accepted. Tipping is generally not expected and restaurants usually add 10% to 15% service charge to your bill.
3. Local Language: Most people in Hong Kong speak Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin). However, English is also widely spoken since it is one of the government official languages. 
4. Local Culture and Religion: Many people in Hong Kong either follow Buddhism, Confucianism, or Taoism. Christianity is also one of the major religions in the city. Other religions such as Islam, Sikhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and the Bahá'í Faith are also freely practiced.
5. Public Holidays: Hong Kong celebrates major religious holidays such as Lunar New Year, Ching Ming Festival, and Christmas.