Professor Lam received his medical degree from the University of Western Australia in 1983. In 1991, he completed his specialist training in Ophthalmology and was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists the same year.

He then completed two Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Fellowships in the USA, the first of which was at the Jules Steins Eye Institute of UCLA, and the second at Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital.

He is currently the UWA Clinical Associate Professor and Head of Ophthalmology at Princess Margaret Hospital. He is passionately involved in the teaching of medical students, as well as the training of ophthalmology residents and registrars.

In 2007, he was recognised by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) as one of the best ophthalmology teachers in Australia with the Trainer of Excellence Award. He is an examiner of the RANZCO Advanced Clinical Examinations (RACE) of ophthalmology trainees. He is also the recipient of the 2016 UWA Faculty of Medicine Dean's Letter of Commendation for Clinical Mentors.

He is currently the WA representative of the Australian Paediatric Ophthalmology Special Interest Group, and the Australian Strabismus Society. He practices Paediatric Ophthalmology in Subiaco.