A promise of renewed vision
Monica Lee
Nurse Consultant (Ophthalmology), Kowloon East Cluster
"Eyes are the windows to the soul, and the darkness brought by eye diseases makes every step in life difficult. We hope our patients can regain their sight after surgery," shares Monica Lee, who has dedicated 30 years to ophthalmic nursing. She recalls an elderly patient who was dependent on Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) support and needed to undergo cataract surgery. The operation of the CPAP made it nearly impossible to maintain his head position accurately, significantly increasing surgical risks. However, living alone, the patient was determined to receive the surgery to regain his ability of self-care. Monica and her team patiently guided him on how to control his breathing during the procedure, leading to a successful surgery. His smile after regaining his vision was as if he had been given a second lease on life. It was the most beautiful scenery Monica had encountered in her career.
Monica's long-held philosophy is to ‘be patient centric and prioritise their needs'. In response to Hong Kong's ageing population and the surging demand for eye care, she returned from overseas eye training and she pioneered Hong Kong's first nurse-led intravitreal injections in the Kowloon East Cluster. This innovative service allows trained ophthalmic nurses to perform intravitreal injections for patients with macular degeneration. By optimising clinical workflows through professional task division, the waiting time was reduced from three months to four weeks. Additionally, Monica pioneered the practice of having trained ophthalmic nurses provide same-day slit lamp examinations and postoperative care education for cataract surgery patients. These services ensure timely treatment for patients while allowing doctors to focus on more complex cases.
Throughout Monica's career, patient recognition has been her greatest motivation. She vividly remembers a patient praising her, "Ms Lee, thank you for your care and injection technique. If possible, I would be grateful to have you again next time." Such a simple compliment served as a powerful shot in the arm for the entire team, affirming the clinical expertise and professionalism of the nursing staff. Monica hopes to continue leading by example, steering her team to enhance ophthalmic care services and helping more patients rediscover the vibrant colors of life.
