Dr Cecilia Tzu Yun Tsai

Far East Memorial Hospital,

Taiwan

'During the 1-month period of observership, I saw many interesting and challenging cases in outpatient clinic and operation room.'

It is my great honor to report the experience of my observership. I would like to thank Asia Corneal Society to provide me such a great opportunity to visit Keio University Hospital, Tokyo Dental College Ichikawa Hospital, and Yokohama Minami Kyousai Hospital from June 1 to June 30 2016. Those three eye centers are famous in keratoplasty in Japan. During the 1-month period of observership, I saw many interesting and challenging cases in outpatient clinic and operation room.

In Keio University Hospital, I observed penetrating keratoplasty, DALK, and DSAEK performed by Dr. Shimmura, and I was impressed by his quick and detailed techniques. Daily postoperative visits and discussions help me to learn surgical pearls and postoperative managements. I also joined subspecialty clinics, such as GVHD clinic, dry eye clinic, MGD clinic, and anti-age clinic, where I can have a comprehensive understanding of the diagnoses and managements of challenging cases. I would like to thank Professor Tsubota, Dr. Shimmura, Dr. Ogawa, and Dr. Uchino for being great mentors.

In Tokyo Dental College Ichikawa Hospital, I observed many corneal surgeries, including PK, DALK, DSAEK, crescentic lamellar keratoplasty for advanced Mooren’s ulcer, amniotic membrane transplantation combined with conjunctival autograft for conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma, and corneal cross-linking. Professor Shimazaki, Dr. Satake, Dr. Yamaguchi, and Dr. Tomida demonstrated excellent surgical techniques. In Professor Shimazaki’s clinic, there were many interesting and difficult cases referred from other clinics. In there, I saw many cases which I’ve never seen before, and professor Shimazaki always shared his experience in each case.

I was lucky to have chance to visit Yokohama Minami Kyousai Hospital, here Dr. Hayashi is an expert in DMEK surgery. He taught me many critical steps to achieve DMEK success.

I also visited two eye banks in Keio University Hospital and Tokyo Dental College Ichikawa Hospital. The staffs there were so nice to show me the current operation and situation of eye banks in Japan. Professor Shinozaki gave me a wonderful talk about the progress of eye bank and tissue bank.

Finally, I would like to thank Professor Tsubota and Shimazaki and their colleagues for sharing their knowledge and excellent surgical techniques. Of course, I am grateful to Asia Corneal Society for the support. The inspiring experience in Japan really does enhance my insight about corneal disease.