Focusing on issues affecting civil society, we'll hear from representatives of NGOs, associations, statutory bodies, and non-profit groups.
Good morning, thanks for having this morning. At Orbis, we have a simple belief: protecting vision isn’t just a medical issue; it’s a community responsibility. Every one of us has a part to play in helping others keep sight safe. Today, I’d like to tell you a story - the story of Hong Kong’s aging eyes, and why half of our population may soon face serious vision challenges.
When you think of Hong Kong, what comes to mind? Neon lights, the serene views, the dense forest of skyscrapers. We are a city that sees the world in colour and in movement. But behind that beauty, a silent crisis has been developing among our older population.
In late 2025, Orbis collaborated with the Department of Ophthalmology at HKUMed to release results from the largest community glaucoma-screening project ever done in Hong Kong. The results were a wake-up call, not just for everyone over 50, but for everyone who loves someone over 50.
As we age, our bodies begin to change - gently, and gradually. But within our eyes, something more dangerous starts to happen: the risk of vision-threatening diseases rises sharply after 50.
The three biggest culprits here in Hong Kong are: cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Cataracts are like looking through a frosted dirty window. The world turns cloudy and dim. Thankfully, surgery can restore clear sight.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) attacks your central vision. It’s what you use to read, drive, or recognize a loved one’s face. It may not cause total blindness, but it steals your quality of life.
And then, there’s glaucoma, the silent thief of sight. It creeps in slowly, quietly damaging the optic nerve - the delicate cable that connects the eye to the brain. There’s no pain. No early symptoms. You don’t even know it’s happening… until a quarter of your vision is already gone.
Once those nerve fibers die, they’re gone forever. We can’t bring them back. All we can do is stop more from dying, curb it from getting worse, stop one from becoming blind. For years, we suspected glaucoma was widespread in Hong Kong. But we didn’t know how widespread or common it was - until now.
Over two years, Orbis and HKUMed conducted a project we called Vision Matters. We went into public housing estates, from Southern District, Kwun Tong and Taipo etc, inviting residents aged 50 and above for free, comprehensive eye exams. More than 5,800 people across our city took part.
The results were staggering. We found optic-nerve degeneration in 11.6 percent of participants, and confirmed glaucoma in 6.9 percent of them. For context, that’s higher than previous estimates across the entire Chinese population.
So, what’s going on? Is Hong Kong somehow “sicker”? Not necessarily. In truth, the difference lies in the technology. We were only able to identify these occurrences because of the technology we used. Our study used an AI-powered tool called ROTA to identify at-risk patients. Now, a traditional scan can tell you if your optic nerve - imagine a rope - is getting thinner. But ROTA goes deeper. It shows whether the threads within that rope are beginning to fray. This means it can catch glaucoma damage far earlier, often before patients notice a single symptom.
Currently, if referred to a specialist out-patient clinic, the wait time can be as long as 117 weeks. That is over two years. For glaucoma, two years of waiting means two years of irreversible vision damage.
Here’s how AI integration changes a lot of everything. Because when a doctor spots even the smallest hint of trouble, AI can help flag high-risk patients faster, triage them sooner, push them to the front of the list and make sure they see a specialist in time.
It won’t erase the two-year waiting list overnight, but it could save sight before it’s too late.
Our AI-powered diagnostic system will soon be deployed in Hong Kong West and Kowloon East clusters. And that’s what Orbis does best: bridging innovation and humanity. Around the world, our team ensures that innovation travels faster than distance. The fight against blindness is no longer just about scalpels and predictions. It’s about data and predictions. It’s about catching the thief before it steals your sight.
Through Cybersight AI, a groundbreaking Orbis diagnostic platform, specialist-level eye screening can be “air-dropped” into even the most remote villages. Imagine this: a local nurse in a rural community takes a photo of a patient’s retina. Within seconds, the AI detects early signs of blinding diseases and alerts doctors miles away. That speed and that precision can be the difference between permanent vision loss and a lifetime of sight.
But here’s the truth: technology alone isn’t the hero.
People are. AI is just a tool - one that amplifies the reach of doctors and empowers local health workers. It filters out routine cases, so specialists can focus on the most urgent, life-changing ones.
Yet, even the smartest technology can’t succeed without trust. In Ethiopia, for example, Orbis trains local women as community eye-care workers - women their neighbours already know and trust. In Vietnam, we adapt our workflow to match local customs and patient habits, because technology must fit people, not the other way around.
And through every project, from Hong Kong’s urban neighbourhoods to the world’s most remote corners, one message shines through:
Technology guards vision; trust connects communities.
Together, they build a bridge - from innovation to impact, from city to village, from research to real lives. And that bridge is how Orbis makes sure no one, anywhere in the world, is left in the dark.
We live in a city of dazzling lights. Let's make sure we can all see them, clearly and safely, for years to come.
How can I get involved in supporting older people in my community? It’s a question that gets asked often, but not enough if we’re being honest with ourselves.
Just saying any one of the words used to describe this population – “elderly” “ageing” “seniors” can evoke a sense of respect and care – or for many – pity and misunderstanding.
In Hong Kong, the elderly population is increasing rapidly. By 2030, it's estimated that one in every five residents will be 65 or older. This demographic shift brings with it a host of challenges—healthcare, social isolation, and financial insecurity are just the tip of the iceberg. Our aging population faces challenges that are both urgent and complex, and it’s time we shine a spotlight on these issues.
Education and awareness are key. We must engage the younger generation, encouraging them to understand and empathise with the struggles of our elderly. Initiatives that promote intergenerational bonding, like community outings and volunteer programs, can bridge the gap. Imagine a young person spending time with an elder, learning life lessons and sharing experiences. Providing companionship and connection. It’s a win-win.
HandsOn developed Generation Connect – a program that pairs up an isolated elderly person with a volunteer family. A 2023 Research Report on the Needs of Grassroots Elderly Households, found that less than 10% of low-income elderly receive regular care from their children. Over half of the elderly we support live alone. The bustling city of Hong Kong, with all its vibrancy, can feel incredibly lonely for those who are disconnected from their communities.
With strong partnership from the Hong Kong Club Foundation, we’ve been running Generation Connect for four years, and have supported 296 vulnerable elderly. Each of these receives love and care from a child and their parent or carer.
This program fosters environments where our elderly have access to caring volunteer supporters. Seniors can engage, share stories, and feel valued. Just recently our volunteer families and their elderly buddies took part in a craft-making workshop together. In the past, they’ve taken trips to the theatre, the farm, and museums.
For some, it’s been the volunteers who have responded to their healthcare needs – helping to book doctor appointments, collect prescriptions, and in one instance being the warm face by their hospital bedside during a more severe health concern. Sometimes, advocating on behalf of an elderly person – helping them to gain access to financial aid, reduce hospital or housing waiting times that they face, or simply raising awareness about their rights and needs within the community is what goes the furthest. We owe this to a generation that has given so much to our city. It’s time we give them something back.
So what can you do? HandsOn is looking for more volunteers to support local elderly individuals – these could be parents and children, or teens who just want to help and gain something too. We realise that no matter the age, connecting generations is the powerful thing about it.
We’re looking for Cantonese, English or Mandarin speakers who can join a six-month program filled with meaningful activities. Volunteers will commit to sharing weekly phone calls, monthly activities, shopping trips and outings with this special group. It’s all supported by HandsOn, and you’ll be part of a wider community of families who are doing the same thing. Find us at handsonhongkong.org.
I’d like to thank our volunteers – all 381 of them who have accompanied us on this shared path already, and invite many more of you to do the same. Together we can not only enrich their lives but also our own.
The song I'd like to request is Al Jolson’s “Sonny Boy” , a dedication to a HandsOn colleague’s Grandpa Ronnie who we said goodbye to this week.
