Sun Huihua(1936-2022)，Professor of Ophthalmology, Former Director of the Ophthalmology Department, Renji Hospital

Introduction

Whether in a bustling urban hospital or a remote rural clinic, she served every patient with the same dedication, restoring the gift of sight. With her exceptional ophthalmological skills, she achieved miracles of restored vision. Her profound understanding of ophthalmology made her a pioneer in the prevention and treatment of childhood amblyopia and strabismus, bringing these once-overlooked conditions into the medical spotlight. Her treatment methods, refined through years of clinical practice and innovation, brought joy to countless families, allowing children once troubled by vision problems to see the world clearly. In the field of medical education, she was a dedicated mentor, selflessly imparting her knowledge to future generations. Her example inspired young doctors to center their work on patients, master their skills, and relentlessly pursue excellence.

The Path to Medicine

Sun Huihua was born in 1936 in the picturesque town of Gangkou, Zhejiang Province. Nestled by the Fuchun River, her hometown fostered her deep appreciation for life. Raised in a family that valued education and humanistic ideals, Sun developed an early interest in medicine, which her parents encouraged her to pursue.

In 1954, driven by her dream, Sun Huihua entered the Faculty of Medicine at Shanghai Second Medical University. In the bustling metropolis of Shanghai, she received systematic medical training and participated in extensive clinical practice.

Upon graduating in 1959, she was assigned to the ophthalmology department of Renji Hospital, her chosen century-old institution.

At Renji Hospital, Sun Huihua confronted a wide array of complex eye diseases. Though the work was demanding, she treated every patient with patience and enthusiasm, meticulous in everything from basic vision checks to complex surgeries. Her skills steadily improved.

In 1966, as Chinese society underwent profound changes during the Cultural Revolution, Sun Huihua made a difficult decision: she left her young child behind to join a rural medical team in Anhui Province. At a time when the nation faced numerous challenges and rural medical conditions were severely underdeveloped, she was determined to bring her expertise where it was needed most.

In rural Anhui, Sun Huihua faced harsh conditions and scarce resources. She and her colleagues traveled to every village to conduct blindness prevention campaigns and provide direct care. Her work achieved remarkable results, bringing sight to many rural residents and significantly improving the local medical environment. In 1966, she was honored with the Shanghai “March 8th Red-Banner Bearer” award, a prestigious recognition for outstanding women, affirming her contributions during a period of social transformation.

In 1976, as China began to rebuild after a period of turmoil, it continued its foreign aid efforts. Cambodia in the 1970s was mired in civil war, and its medical system had collapsed. As a key member of the Chinese medical aid team to Cambodia, Sun Huihua shouldered immense responsibility. Her mission was not only to provide medical services but also to train local personnel.

Facing damaged infrastructure and rudimentary medical facilities, Sun and her team often performed surgeries in makeshift conditions. Despite these challenges and the local population’s initial skepticism, she worked with great enthusiasm. She relied on her vast clinical experience to treat patients and actively shared advanced medical knowledge with local doctors. Her selfless dedication earned high praise from the Cambodian people and deepened the friendship between the two nations.

Pioneer in Amblyopia and Strabismus

In 1978, as China’s Reform and Opening-Up era began, Chinese medicine entered a new springtime. That year, Sun Huihua traveled to Tianjin for advanced studies, choosing a niche yet critical field: the prevention and treatment of childhood amblyopia and strabismus. This field was then in its infancy, and she was determined to devote her career to improving children’s visual health.

Returning to Renji Hospital, Sun Huihua built a comprehensive system for amblyopia and strabismus treatment from scratch. She adapted advanced international techniques for Chinese children and emphasized technological innovation and team training.

Between 1978 and the early 1980s, she made a series of breakthroughs. After years of research, she successfully developed innovative devices like the “Home-use Children’s Amblyopia Therapeutic Instrument,” which allowed parents to treat their children at home, and the “Flickering Amblyopia Therapeutic Instrument,” which enhanced treatment outcomes using advanced optics. These innovations brought new vitality to pediatric ophthalmology and earned international acclaim.

Sun Huihua’s work yielded remarkable results. She has treated tens of thousands of children with amblyopia and strabismus, about half of whom were complex referrals from other hospitals. She successfully restored vision for over 3,000 children with amblyopia; 90% of these patients experienced a vision improvement of two lines or more on an eye chart, and 65% achieved normal vision.

In 1982, she was again honored as a Shanghai “March 8th Red-Banner Bearer” for her outstanding work in amblyopia prevention. In 1990, she was appointed Chief Physician and Professor, taking on the responsibility of leading the ophthalmology team and training the next generation of specialists.

Sun Huihua deeply understood the profound impact of amblyopia on a child’s future. She often told her students that the disorder could limit a patient’s education and career opportunities. She firmly believed that restoring the sight of one child could change their life forever. This conviction fueled her relentless dedication and earned her widespread respect throughout the medical field.

The Patient is Always the Center

At the end of 1992, a farmer from Wuxi brought his six-year-old son to see Sun Huihua. Although the child had bright, lively eyes, his vision was very poor: 0.6 in his right eye and only 0.1 in his left. In his desperation, the father made a special request to Sun Huihua – he hoped she could write a certificate allowing him to have another child under China’s family planning policy. While this request was emotionally charged, it reflected the father’s extreme anxiety about his child’s future.

Sun Huihua understood the parent’s feelings, but she knew that with millions of children suffering from amblyopia nationwide, she could not abandon her treatment responsibilities. She needed to help the child while respecting the national policy. Therefore, she reassured the anxious parent while simultaneously formulating a detailed treatment plan.

After nearly a year of consistent treatment, the child’s vision gradually improved, with both eyes reaching 1.5. This gratifying outcome not only saved the child’s sight but also allowed the family to remain in compliance with the law.

Sun Huihua’s clinic was always bustling, especially during summer and winter holidays when demand for vision tests and glasses surged. During these peak times, she worked from morning till night, barely having time to eat or rest. When colleagues urged her to take a break, she would always smile and say, “I can’t eat while patients are waiting.”

Working continuously for six or seven hours in the sweltering summer heat was a tremendous challenge, especially as she suffered from high blood lipids and insufficient blood supply to the brain. Yet, she always wore a smile and greeted every patient with warmth. She found deep satisfaction in seeing a child’s amblyopia improve from 0.08 to 1.2, a sense of accomplishment that fueled her dedication.

During winter holidays, to avoid delaying students’ treatments, Sun Huihua often worked overtime, staying busy right up to Chinese New Year’s Eve. Her spirit of dedication earned her immense respect among patients and colleagues alike.

Sun Huihua’s expertise was not limited to children; she was equally dedicated to complex adult cases. Whether treating children or adults, she approached every patient with the same focus and passion. Her exquisite skills and selfless dedication established her outstanding reputation in ophthalmology.

Also in 1992, Sun Huihua encountered a 36-year-old woman from a rural county whose life was severely impacted by vision of only 0.08 in both eyes. Tragically, she had been misdiagnosed with an intracranial tumor after seeking help at six major Shanghai hospitals. While a CT scan later revealed the true diagnosis was a severe refractive error, it raised new questions about what could realistically be done.

Faced with this challenging case, Sun Huihua was not deterred. She understood that after the initial relief of not having a tumor, the patient faced the long-term challenge of restoring her vision. Sun began by taking a detailed medical history and conducting a thorough eye examination. She found that the patient’s vision could not be corrected by conventional methods.

During this process, a well-meaning doctor remarked, “This patient has already been seen by the city’s top specialists…” While intended as a caution, the comment did not discourage Sun. She knew that in medicine, a doctor’s patience and meticulous observation were often the keys to unlocking a successful treatment.

Sun Huihua began a course of diagnostic treatment, combining systemic medication with local injections. To monitor the patient closely, she adjusted her own schedule, arriving early and staying late. She invested enormous time and energy, observing every subtle change in the patient’s condition to refine her strategy.

As an experienced ophthalmologist, Sun understood that treating such a refractive error wasn’t just about prescribing glasses; it involved continuous adjustment and optimization. After several months of this meticulous care, the woman’s vision gradually improved. Ultimately, her corrected vision in both eyes reached 0.8. This patient, on the brink of blindness, regained a bright world, returned to her job, and rediscovered hope for life.

For Sun Huihua, this recovery was one of the most rewarding moments of her career. Whenever she saw the light rekindled in a patient’s eyes, she felt immense satisfaction. She often shared this experience with her students: “Every patient has a story. When they need help, we as doctors must do our utmost to understand and care.”

In Sun Huihua’s heart, restoring a patient’s vision was not just a demonstration of medical skill; it was a mission to help them reclaim their lives. She always believed that restoring one person’s sight could change not just their daily experience, but also their career path, family responsibilities, and future hopes.

Sun Huihua’s achievements were also reflected in the various academic positions she held, including leadership roles in the Strabismus and Amblyopia Prevention Groups of both the Chinese Ophthalmological Society and the Chinese Medical Association. She also actively participated in Shanghai’s committees for myopia prevention, blindness prevention, and rehabilitation for the disabled. These positions demonstrated her broad recognition and influence within her field.

Due to her outstanding contributions, Sun Huihua received the Special Allowance from the State Council. In scientific research, she authored numerous papers published in authoritative journals like the Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology. Furthermore, she co-authored several professional books, including Clinical Therapeutics and Recent Advances in Ophthalmology, integrating her research and practical experience into valuable resources for medical students and ophthalmologists.

Teaching and Nurturing, Setting an Example

In Sun Huihua’s view, teaching involved more than imparting knowledge; it was about cultivating students’ character and professional ethics. She believed that a doctor’s most important duty was to teach integrity and responsibility through practice. Whenever a patient thanked her after surgery, she would humbly reply, “The surgery was a team effort.” She emphasized teamwork and always led by example.

When faced with difficult medical problems, Sun always had the courage to take responsibility and strove to turn crises into opportunities. When encountering complex cases, she diligently sought her colleagues’ opinions, demonstrating her open-mindedness and commitment to continuous learning. This rigorous attitude became a cornerstone of her teaching.

Sun believed that education should involve learning from both successes and mistakes. She often told mid-career doctors: “We must pass on our successful experiences to the younger generation, but also share the lessons from our mistakes. Let them learn from both, so they can grow faster.” This philosophy helped students understand the complexity of medicine and learn to improve continuously.

For young doctors, Sun always encouraged them to learn the strengths of every teacher. She pointed out that in a competitive field, learning from others and adapting their strengths was the path to progress. When teaching surgery, she provided hands-on guidance, imparting techniques without reservation.

Sun’s attention to detail was legendary. She personally taught graduate students how to perform retinoscopy and conduct specialized strabismus examinations, insisting on precision and not allowing even a 25-degree error to go unnoticed. This strictness instilled a rigorous work style in her students.

Sun had a special habit: the day after any surgery, she would personally go to change the patient’s dressings and check their condition. She believed that seeing the recovery firsthand was crucial for reflecting on and improving surgical techniques. This practice not only enhanced her own skills but also strengthened patient trust.

Sun Huihua’s teachings and example influenced her students to maintain a high sense of responsibility and a rigorous work ethic throughout their careers. Her education was not just the transmission of medical skills; it was the inheritance of medical ethics.

In 2022, Sun Huihua passed away due to illness at the age of 86. As an outstanding ophthalmologist and educator, her passing brought immense grief to the patients, students, and colleagues who had benefited from her care and mentorship. However, her legacy lives on—not only in the publications she wrote and the innovative therapies she developed, but in the lives of the thousands who now see the world clearly and in the new generation of doctors she inspired, who continue her work.

Editor: Chen Qing @ ShanghaiDoctor.cn

Note: Chinese Sources from “The Path of Benevolent Medicine” which was published in 2024. It records 90 important medical figures in the history of Renji Hospital. Yewen Renyi (ShanghaiDoctor.cn) team was one of the major writers of the book and is authorized by Renji hospital to create English version on the website of ShanghaiDoctor.cn