Dr. Ka Ho SZETO

Research Area

1. Novel surgical technique in macular and vitreo-retinal surgery
2. Retinal imaging in predicting development, progression and treatment response of diabetic retinal diseases
3. Use of retinal imaging to diagnose systemic diseases

Professional Profile

Dr. Szeto is a clinician-researcher in the field of ophthalmology. As a specialist in ophthalmology with special interest in retinal diseases, he is devoted to delivering exceptional patient care and advancing the field through research and education.

After graduating from the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in 2012, Dr. Szeto received his specialist training at the Hong Kong Eye Hospital (HKEH). He obtained his fellowship in ophthalmology in 2019 and obtained the CUHK-HKEH Retina Subspecialty Fellow in 2021. He serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at CUHK since January 2023.

Dr. Szeto’s research focuses on innovative macular and vitreo-retinal surgical techniques, retinal imaging, and diabetic retinal diseases. Notable examples include macular hole repair surgery without gas tamponade, which facilitated quicker post-operative vision recovery while maintaining a high surgical success rate and the application of retinal imaging to improve personalised treatment of diabetic macular edema.

His work has been published in prestigious journals, including Progress in Retina and Eye Research, Ophthalmology Retina, British Journal of Ophthalmology, Retina, Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology, and Ophthalmologica. One of his research projects was recognized as a top 3 self-initiated project in the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-Retinal Society (APVRS) Leadership Development Program, earning him a bronze medal for best overall mentee.

In addition to his clinical and research endeavors, Dr. Szeto is a passionate educator. He has initiated regular and structured residents teaching rounds to discuss complex retina and uveitis cases, ensuring knowledge is effectively transferred to the next generation of ophthalmologists. Furthermore, he serves as an active instructor and vice-director of the CUHK Ophthalmic Microsurgical Training Centre, where he provides simulated surgical training to junior colleagues before they perform procedures on patients.

Dr. Szeto is deeply engaged in the local and international ophthalmology community. He currently holds editorial board positions with Scientific Reports and The Hong Kong Journal of Ophthalmology. He also serves as a council member of the Asia-Pacific Ocular Imaging Society and the Hong Kong Ophthalmological Society. Additionally, he has contributed to the organizing committees of prestigious international conferences, such as the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-Retinal Society and Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology annual meetings.

With his exceptional clinical expertise, research, dedication to teaching, and active involvement in the ophthalmology community, Dr. Szeto is poised to continue making significant contributions to the field as a leader and innovator.