（香港 • 2025年8月14日）香港大學李嘉誠醫學院臨床醫學學院眼科學系（以下簡稱「港大醫學院眼科學系」）與奧比斯今日公布「視」不宜遲──青光眼人工智能ROTA篩查計劃的結果。該計劃於2023年6月啟動，為期兩年，為超過5,800名50歲或以上的公屋居民提供免費全面眼睛檢查。結果顯示青光眼患病率達6.9%，高於預期及中國先前的估計值。這些數據凸顯了加強基層及眼科專科服務的迫切需求。策略專題研究資助金資助下的人工智能光學相干斷層掃描診斷系統（OCT）將於醫院管理局港島西及九龍東聯網的專科門診（SOPC）投入使用，目標是縮短眼科新症輪候時間。

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(Hong Kong • 14 August 2025) Today, the Department of Ophthalmology of the School of Clinical Medicine at the LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (the Department of Ophthalmology, HKUMed) and Orbis announced the results of "Vision Matters: Glaucoma AI-ROTA Screening Project for 50+”, a territory-wide community screening programme launched in June 2023. Over two years, the programme delivered free comprehensive eye examinations to more than 5,800 public housing residents aged 50 or above, revealing a glaucoma prevalence of 6.9% – higher than expected and above previous estimates for China. The results underscore a pressing need to strengthen primary and specialist eye care services. A Strategic Topics Grants‑funded AI‑powered optical coherence tomography (OCT) diagnostic system will be introduced for referred patients in Hospital Authority specialist outpatient clinics (SOPC) in the Hong Kong West and Kowloon East Clusters, with the goal of shortening wait times for new ophthalmology appointments.

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關於「視」不宜遲──青光眼人工智能ROTA篩查計劃

• 該計劃由港大醫學院眼科學系與奧比斯共同合辦，分兩階段進行，共招募了5,844名50歲或以上的公屋居民。

• 第一階段隨機邀請了南區、觀塘及大埔的4,492名居民參與。

• 第二階段於2025年中擴展至全港各區，招募了1,352名居民。

• 計劃的一大創新是採用基於ROTA（視網膜神經纖維層光學紋理分析）的人工智能光學相干斷層掃描診斷系統，這項專利技術提高了檢測視神經退化（尤其是早期青光眼）的靈敏度和效率。

• 所有確診青光眼或其他眼疾的患者均獲轉介至專科跟進。

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About the “Vision Matters: Glaucoma AI‑ROTA Screening Project for 50+”

• The project, co‑led by the Department of Ophthalmology, HKUMed, and Orbis was conducted in two phases and enrolled 5,844 public housing residents aged 50 or above.

• Phase 1 randomly invited 4,492 residents from the Southern District, Kwun Tong and Tai Po.

• Phase 2 expanded the programme to all Hong Kong districts by mid‑2025, enrolling 1,352 residents.

• A key innovation was an AI-powered OCT diagnostic system using Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Optical Texture Analysis (ROTA), a patented technology that improves the sensitivity and efficiency of detecting optic nerve degeneration, especially in early glaucoma.

• All patients diagnosed with glaucoma or other eye diseases were referred to specialist care for follow‑up treatment.

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主要發現

• 香港視神經退化患病率為11.6%，其中6.9%歸因於視神經退化的最常見原因——青光眼，數字高於預期及中國先前的流行病學估計值。

• 高檢測率可能反映了ROTA技術能夠在更早期識別視網膜神經纖維束缺失（視神經退化的標誌性特徵）。

• 相當比例的青光眼病例無症狀，凸顯早期檢測和系統性篩查的必要性，因及時治療可延緩病情惡化並防止視力喪失。

• 結果顯示，社會需要更積極的主動檢測和及時轉介機制，以避免可預防的視力損失。

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Key Findings

• The prevalence of optic nerve degeneration in Hong Kong was found to be 11.6%, with 6.9% attributable to glaucoma, the most common cause of optic nerve degeneration. This rate exceeded expectations and prior epidemiologic estimates for China.

• The high detection rate likely reflects ROTA’s ability to identify retinal nerve fibre bundle loss – the defining feature of optic nerve degeneration – at an earlier stage.

• A substantial proportion of glaucoma cases were asymptomatic, highlighting the need for early detection and systematic screening, as timely treatment can slow disease progression and prevent vision loss.

• The results point to an unmet need for proactive detection and timely referral pathways to prevent avoidable vision loss.

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提升服務：AI-OCT進駐公立診所

港大醫學院眼科學系梁啟信教授的研究團隊，獲得研究資助局策略專題研究資助金，總批准預算為3,981萬港元，開發並推行以AI-OCT診斷為核心的社區基層眼科服務模式，針對青光眼及其他慢性眼疾。此研究計劃將在醫院管理局轄下的港島西及九龍東醫院聯網推行，旨在加快及改善眼科分流程序，從而縮短眼科新症的輪候時間，目前眼科新症的輪候時間最長達 117 周（第 90 個百分位）。

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Advancing Access: AI‑Powered OCT in Public Clinics

The research team of the Department of Ophthalmology, HKUMed, led by Professor Christopher KS LEUNG, has received a total approved budget of HK$39.81 million under the Research Grants Council’s Strategic Topics Grants to develop and deploy a community‑based primary eye‑care model anchored by AI‑powered OCT diagnostics for glaucoma and other chronic eye diseases. This research project will be implemented in the Hospital Authority’s Hong Kong West and Kowloon East Clusters to expedite and refine triage, with the goal of reducing wait times for new ophthalmology cases, which currently can be as long as 117 weeks (90th percentile).

 

香港大學副校長（健康）兼醫學院院長劉澤星教授表示：「近年來，特區政府大力推動創科發展，同時也積極推進基層醫療服務。港大醫學院一直是這些策略的堅定支持者和推動者。這項結合人工智能技術的眼疾篩查計劃，充分展示了港大醫學院與夥伴緊密合作，運用新科技在社區層面提升基層眼科服務的決心。本港人口持續老化，像青光眼這類慢性眼疾的風險和負擔只會越來越大。我們必須同心協力，為有需要的人士帶來了實實在在的好處。」

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Professor Chak‑sing LAU, Vice-President & Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health) and Dean of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, stated: “In recent years, the Hong Kong SAR Government has placed strong emphasis on the development of innovation and technology, as well as the advancement of primary health care. At HKUMed, we have been keen supporters and advocates of these strategies. This large-scale, AI-powered screening project exemplifies our dedication to working hand in hand with our valued partners to leverage new technologies that enhance primary eye care at the community level. As our city faces an ageing population, the risk and burden of chronic eye diseases, such as glaucoma, are expected to rise sharply. It is essential that we deliver real and tangible benefits to those in need.”

 

香港大學基層醫療健康教研中心總監及教授陳肇始教授表示：「『視』不宜遲」計劃展現了AI-ROTA技術在基層醫療的突破，為青光眼篩查帶來高效與精準。透過社區早期檢測，我們能守護市民視力，減輕醫療負擔。這正是基層醫療「預防為先」的實踐，未來將擴展至更多慢性病管理。感謝各方合作，讓我們繼續推動高質量眼護服務普及化，惠及每位市民。」

Professor Sophia CHAN, Director and Professor of the HKU Primary Healthcare Research and Training Centre, stated: "The "Vision Matters: Glaucoma AI-ROTA Screening Project for 50+”, demonstrates the transformative potential of AI-ROTA technology in primary healthcare, improving efficiency and precision in glaucoma screening. Through early detection in the community, we can safeguard public vision and reduce the healthcare burden. This initiative truly embodies the 'prevention-first' principle in primary healthcare and will be expanded to the management of other chronic diseases in the future. We extend our gratitude to all our collaborators. We will continue to promote the universalisation of high-quality eye care services, benefiting all citizens."

 

奧比斯香港總幹事劉慧思小姐表示：「奧比斯在40多年來於全球多個國家推動救盲防盲工作，為應對人口老化面對的挑戰，創新科技將大大提升救盲速度及效率。目前奧比斯已應用人工智能加快人手培訓及眼疾檢測，我們亦會繼續與社會各界合作，推展更多眼睛健康教育工作。今日的研究計劃並非終點，而是起點，奧比斯呼籲各界一同攜手努力，為救盲撐起第一道防線。」

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Ms Mary LAU, Executive Director of Orbis Hong Kong, said: “For over 40 years, Orbis has been working globally to prevent and treat blindness. In response to the challenges posed by an ageing population, innovative technologies will significantly enhance the efficiency of blindness prevention. Orbis has already adopted artificial intelligence to accelerate training and eye disease detection, and we will continue to collaborate with various sectors to promote eye health education. Today’s research is not an endpoint but rather a starting point. Orbis calls on all stakeholders to join hands in building the first line of defence against blindness.”

 

港大醫學院眼科學系名譽臨床教授李啟煌教授表示：「是次計劃反映本港社區有不少青光眼隱性患者需要及早發現同治療，今次人工智能ROTA技術能夠更高效及精準找出社區高危個案，對公共衞生有重大意義。好高興有關篩查技術可應用在公立醫院門診，縮短門診輪候時間，同時令到公眾早一步篩查、少一分風險。」

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Professor Kenneth KW LI, Honorary Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, HKUMed, said: “This project has revealed a significant number of undiagnosed glaucoma cases in our local community that require early detection and treatment. The AI‑ROTA technology has shown its effectiveness in efficiently and accurately identifying high‑risk cases in community settings, representing a major advancement for public health. We are particularly pleased that this screening technology will now be implemented in public hospital clinics.”

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港大醫學院眼科學系系主任及臨床教授梁啟信教授表示：「青光眼往往在無聲中惡化，直至視力不可逆轉地喪失。我們的結果證實，主動檢測既必要且可行。在策略專題研究資助金（STG）支持下，我們正於醫管局港島西及九龍東聯網部署人工智能光學相干斷層掃描診斷系統，並研究其成本效益。這將實現青光眼及其他眼疾的更早檢測、高風險患者的智能分流，以及從檢測到治療的快速通道。這是縮短漫長的專科輪候時間、守護老齡人口視力的關鍵一步。」

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Professor Christopher KS LEUNG, Chairperson and Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, HKUMed, stated: “Glaucoma often advances silently until vision is irreversibly lost. Our findings confirm that proactive detection is both necessary and achievable. With support from the Strategic Topics Grants (STG), we are deploying and investigating the cost-effectiveness of an AI‑powered OCT diagnostic system across the Hospital Authority’s Hong Kong West and Kowloon East Clusters. This will enable earlier detection of glaucoma and other eye diseases, smarter prioritisation of high‑risk patients, and a faster pathway from detection to treatment. This is a pivotal step toward reducing lengthy SOPC wait times and safeguarding the vision of our aging population.”