This undated photo shows Dr Dennis Lam Shun-chiu, the founding editor-in-chief of the Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – The Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology (APJO), the official journal of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, has joined the ranks of the top 10 ophthalmology journals in the world, according to a multidisciplinary index to journal literature in the sciences.    

The APJO, established in 2012 in Hong Kong with Dr Dennis Lam Shun-chiu as its founding editor-in-chief, ranked seventh in the world, the first in Asia, and the first in Asia-Pacific in 2023, according to the Science Citation Index, which represents the international recognition for scientific and medical research journals.

In the last three years, APJO started its rise as a top international eye journal, ranking 29th globally in 2021, and then 16th in the world and second in Asia in 2022

It ranked higher than a number of long-established authorities, including the British Ophthalmology Journal; the American Ophthalmology Journal; Eye, the official journal of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of the United Kingdom; and CEO, the official journal of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Australia and New Zealand.

APJO had a tough time in making to the SCI, without which it is extremely difficult to attract quality submissions. Amid all difficulties, Lam remained faithful to his vision to establish an eye journal from Asia-Pacific with international influence and recognition in ophthalmology.

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After nine years, APJO made its breakthrough and obtained its SCI status. In the last three years, APJO started its rise as a top international eye journal, ranking 29th globally in 2021, and then 16th in the world and second in Asia in 2022.

One of the major driving forces behind APJO’s success today is the unfailing support from eye professors and doctors in Hong Kong, in particular those from the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. They have contributed greatly to the quality of the Journal, without which APJO will not be where it is today.