Retinal Vein Occlusion

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.

Beaumont PE, Kang HK. Clinical characteristics of retinal venous occlusions occurring at different sites. Br J Ophthalmology 2002;86:572-80

Beaumont PE, Kang HK. Cup-to-disc ratio, intraocular pressure and primary open-angle glaucoma in retinal venous occlusion. Ophthalmology 2002;109(2):282-6

 

Beaumont PE, Kang HK. Pattern of vascular nonperfusion in retinal venous occlusions occurring within the optic nerve with and without optic nerve head swelling. Arch Ophthalmol 2000;118(10):1357-63

 

Beaumont PE, Kang HK. Ophthalmodynamometry and corticosteroids in central retinal vein occlusion. Aust NZ J Ophthalmol 1994;22(4):271

 

Laser refractive surgery​

In 1993, Dr Kang spent 10 weeks at Lions Eye Institute, Perth, as a medical undergraduate, examining and comparing the first three excimer lasers to become available in Australia for correction of refractive errors. Laser refractive surgery is now commonly performed to correct, not only myopia (short sightedness) but also hyperopia (long-sightedness) and astigmatism. The findings were presented in RANZCO meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1994 and published in Australian ophthalmology journal in 1995.

 

Kang HK, Beaumont PE, Taylor HR, van Saarloos PP, Constable IJ. Visual outcome of excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy for myopia. Aust NZ J Ophthalmol 1995;23(4):265

​

Macular hole

Dr Kang performed a meta-analysis of results published in peer-reviewed journals on the outcomes of vitrectomy surgery to repair the macular hole. The results were compared with an Australian series, with the conclusion that macular holes should be repaired as soon as possible because of diminishing success rate with longer duration of the macular hole. Dr Kang subsequently co-authored a study reporting on the outcomes of combined cataract and vitrectomy surgery for macular hole.

 

Kang HK, Chang AA, Beaumont PE. The macular hole: report of an Australian series and meta-analysis of the literature. Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2000;28(4):298-308

 

Rogers S, Madhusudhana KC, Kang HK, Luff AJ, Canning CR, Newsom RSB. Combined phaco-vitrectomy for macular hole: long-term results. Ophthalmic Surgery Lasers and Imaging 2007;38:452-456

​

Age-related macular degeneration

Dr Kang, in association with Dr Paul Beaumont, conducted research into diagnosis and treatment macular degeneration. The most extensive of the studies performed was to examine the clinical characteristics of wet age-related macular degeneration to identify groupings that could have treatment implications.

Kang HK, Chong R. Ranibizumab for wet macular degeneration. Medicine Today 2009;10:11

 

Beaumont PE, Kang HK. Lesion Morphology in Age-related Macular Degeneration and its Therapeutic Significance. Arch Ophthalmol
2006; 124:807-812

Beaumont PE, Kang HK. Balancing the risks and benefits in AMD. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol 2005;33:108-110

Beaumont P, Lim CS, Chang A, Kang K. Acute severe vision decrease immediately after photodynamic therapy. Arch Ophthalmol
2004;122:1546-7

Zeldovich A, Beaumont P, Chang A, Kang K. Indocyanine green angiographic interpretation of reticular dystrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium complicated by choroidal neovascularization. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol. 2002 Oct;30(5):383-5.

 

Retinal detachment

Dr Kang authored a major review of retinal detachment and treatment options. An overview on vitreous separation and importance of attending to flashes and floaters was published in an Australian journal.

 

Kang HK, Gorbatov M. Flashes and floaters. Australian Rural Doctor 2012; Aug:15-18

 

Kang HK, Luff AJ. Management of retinal detachment: a guide for non-ophthalmologist. BMJ 2008;336:1235-40

​

Health utility and quality of life

Dr Kang also was involved in examining the health utility value of vision loss from macular degeneration and developed a novel contact lens that simulated central vision loss that healthy volunteers could wear to experience the effects of the disease first hand.

Czoski-Murray C, Carlton J, Brazier J, Young T, Papo N, Kang HK. Valuing condition-specific health states using simulation contact lenses. Value Health 2009;12:793-799

Brazier JE, Kang K, Carton J, Czoski-Murray CJ. General population survey to obtain values for AMD visual impairment states using lenses –preliminary report. 2006. Appendix 1. Lucentis (ranibuzumab) therapy for the treatment of we age-related macular degeneration. Evidence submitted to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Novartis Pharmaceuticals; August 2006.