Prof. YAO Ke, Chair of SAHZU Ophthalmology, was presented with the Arthur Lim Award by the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) on Feb. 5 during the opening ceremony of its 41st congress.

The Arthur Lim Award, named after a past APAO president, is one of the academy's highest honors. It recognizes individuals for their exceptional international leadership and landmark contributions to advancing eye care across the Asia-Pacific region.

Prof. YAO holds several key national and international positions, including the director of the Ophthalmology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, member of the International Council of Ophthalmology and scientific president of the 2026 World Ophthalmology Congress.

During his nine-year time leading the Chinese Medical Association's ophthalmology branch, Prof. YAO has been instrumental in fostering deeper collaboration between Chinese ophthalmology and major global organizations. His efforts have expanded international exchanges, joint conferences, and cooperative projects.

Beyond academic leadership, Prof. YAO is recognized for his extensive philanthropic work. He has led medical missions to remote areas within China and across Asia, Africa, Oceania, establishing dozens of vision restoration centers. These initiatives have provided free screenings and cataract surgeries to hundreds of thousands of patients.

Following the award ceremony, Prof. YAO delivered a keynote speech titled "Cataract Surgery in China—From Couching to FLACS," outlining the remarkable evolution of cataract treatment in the country. This award adds to his collection of international honors, which includes the Alfred Vogt Prize and the International Council of Ophthalmology's Mark Tso Golden Apple Award.

The APAO 2026 congress in Hong Kong is a five-day event bringing together nearly 10,000 eye specialists and visual researchers from around the world.