Recently, the Guangdong Provincial Health Commission and the Guangdong Provincial Department of Finance jointly issued the Guangdong Provincial Implementation Plan for the 2024 National Key Clinical Specialty Capacity Building Project (Healthcare Institution Capacity Enhancement). The Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Ocular Genetics at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC), Sun Yat-sen University, has been successfully designated as a 2024 National Key Clinical Specialty Construction Project. This follows the Ophthalmology Department's recognition as one of the first National Key Clinical Specialties in 2012, and subsequent designations for the Anesthesiology Department in 2021 and the Pharmacy Department in 2022.
As China's first comprehensive pediatric eye disease platform, the Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Ocular Genetics builds upon foundations established with the development of pediatric ophthalmology since 1983. Since its official establishment as a platform in 2018, the department has actively explored the integration of various pediatric ophthalmology subspecialties. By formulating scientific and comprehensive diagnostic and treatment strategies, it focuses on the standardized clinical management and cutting-edge applied basic research of a wide range of pediatric eye diseases and ocular genetic disorders. It works to ensure the reconstruction of ocular structures, development of vision, and restoration of visual function in children with eye diseases, opening a new chapter in collaborative pediatric eye care.
Currently, the department encompasses specialties including: pediatric cataract, pediatric glaucoma, pediatric fundus diseases, pediatric ocular genetics, pediatric refractive disorders, and pediatric lacrimal duct diseases. With an annual outpatient volume exceeding 30,000 patient visits and approximately 2,000 surgeries performed each year, over 60% of its cases are complicated, establishing it as a renowned "one-stop" comprehensive pediatric ophthalmology diagnosis and treatment center in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The department treats a wide spectrum of conditions and has extensive experience in managing complex and rare pediatric eye disease cases. It maintains systematic longitudinal cohort follow-up data and houses an internationally advanced pediatric ophthalmic imaging center and genetic testing laboratory. In just a few years, the department has made significant strides in multidisciplinary comprehensive care for pediatric eye diseases, one-stop examination and treatment for pediatric eye conditions, and high-quality clinical research. It has achieved breakthrough progress in areas such as regenerative medicine for congenital cataracts, AI-mediated screening and treatment planning for pediatric eye diseases, and personalized precision medicine for pediatric fundus diseases and ocular genetic disorders. Over the past three years, the department has secured 6 national-level research grants and published nearly 100 high-impact research papers.
Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Ocular Genetics at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center
Leveraging the opportunity presented by the National Key Clinical Specialty Construction Project, the Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Ocular Genetics at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center will further advance its comprehensive development in clinical services, scientific innovation, and talent cultivation. It aims to provide full-chain, high-quality, efficient, and personalized medical services to children with eye diseases, striving to become a nationally leading and internationally renowned comprehensive pediatric ophthalmology diagnosis, treatment, and research center.
