- TFOS global ambassadors and international chapter affiliate
Malaysia
Ai-Hong Chen
Ai-Hong Chen is a Professor of Optometry at the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Selangor, Malaysia with 32 years of academic experience. She currently is the Head of the Center of Excellence for Research in Optometry & Vision Sciences (iROViS) and the Director for the Health & Wellbeing Community of Research at UiTM. Dr. Chen has been a member of the American Academy of Optometry since 2002, and a member of the College of Vision Development since 2003. She is an active Primary Eye Care Practitioner and Vision Scientist as well as a certified SME Business Counsellor and a Design Thinking Innovation Ambassador, and advocates leadership in the Optometry profession. As a vision scientist, Dr. Chen adopts a multidisciplinary research approach. Since 1998, she has been instrumental in establishing the pediatric optometry practice in Malaysia. She works closely with pediatricians on a vision development study, and teams up with an educational psychologist investigating learning related vision problems. Professor Chen co-supervises a visual ergonomics cross-disciplinary project with a transport engineer and graphic artist, while also collaborating with an ophthalmologist, geriatrician and town planner on a visual rehabilitation and adaptation endeavor. Additionally, she engages with a public health specialist in preventive eye care research, and her cosmetic contact lens toxicity study is supported by a material chemist and molecular biologist. Professor Chen participates in local and international research, journal editorial review, professorship and grant evaluation. Her research contributions are recognized through awards such as the Young Investigator Award by the Singapore Ophthalmology Society, the Seri-Santen Travel Fellowship by ARVO, the Essilor Travel Fellowship by Asia Pacific Optometry Council, and over 25 research awards for various innovations, exhibitions and conferences, as well as more than 250 publications. She has authored three books: “Pediatric Vision Care: Current Practice and Future Challenges” in 2015, “Let’s Build Our Research Passion Via Research Garden” in 2016, and “Understanding & Applying the Concept of Outcome-based Education (OBE) in Optometry Practical & Clinical Assessment” in 2016. Professor Chen has also been active in the eye care community as Chairman for the Head of Optometry Programs Council, council member for the Malaysian Optical Council and Joint Technical Committee, accreditation panel for Malaysian Qualification Agency, Chairman for the National Contact Lens Exam Questions Formulate Committee, Chairman for the National Contact Lens Practical Exam Committee, and Deputy Chairman for the Optometry Way Forward Committee under Ministry of Higher Education.