Dr H. Kwon Kang

Dr Kang has been involved in Myanmar Eye Care Project since 2003. He currently travels to Wachet Jivitadana Sangha Hospital, near Mandalay, three times a year to train the local eye specialists in vitreoretinal surgery. He organised the upgrading of sterilisation services in Wachet Hospital using the funds received from XOVA award, following an outbreak of eye infection in 2014. It must be acknowledged that many ophthalmologists, nurses and engineers have given their time and resources to make the program the success it is today. They all deserve recognition equally for their generous work.

Myanmar (formerly Burma) is a nation of 60 million people and has one of the world’s highest published rates of blindness. There are only around 200 ophthalmologists in service for the entire country, and not all of the ophthalmologists are qualified to perform surgery. In contrast, Australia has approximately 800 ophthalmologists serving a population of 24 million. Although the situation is improving, access to medical care is still limited by availability and cost.

Myanmar Eye Care Project began with a small group of Australian ophthalmologists making trips to Wachet Hospital to offer free eye care to disadvantaged people of Myanmar. Along with consultation and clinic procedures, surgery is offered for cataract, glaucoma, squint, oculoplastics and trauma.

Dr Kang completed medical school at the University of Sydney, where he also attained a Bachelor of Science degree with the University Medal. He completed ophthalmology training at Prince of Wales Hospital and pursued a fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery and medical retina at Southampton University Hospital in UK, and worked as a consultant in 2006 and 2007 before returning to Sydney.

Dr Kang became involved in academic research early, before starting the medical school at Sydney University. Under the tutelage Dr Paul Beaumont, who is the leading specialist in medical retina, he embarked on research work that culminated in a thesis titled ‘Quantification of the Morphology of Retinal Vein Occlusion’, which received the University Medal for Bachelor of Science degree 1990. The thesis and subsequent work resulted in publications of reports in major international journals.

Dr Kang has been active in research into retinal vein occlusion, macular degeneration and macular hole, and published numerous papers in major international journals.