Dr Nina Asrini NOOR
Jakarta Eye Center
Indonesia
I strongly recommend this ACS Santen Educational Grant program to all aspiring cornea surgeon/specialist. Believe me, it will be a remarkable experience in many aspects!
It was a great honor and opportunity to have received the Asia Cornea Society - Santen Asia Educational Grant to support my observership at Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine (KPUM), Kyoto, Japan from January 15th to February 2nd, 2018 (3 weeks).
During this observership, I was assigned to follow a weekly schedule that has been made very efficiently. I attended Cornea Clinic every Monday and Thursday, Dry Eye Clinic every Tuesday and Friday, OT on Wednesday, and also Contact Lens Clinic on Wednesday between surgeries.
One major purpose of my observership was to learn about dry eye disease, especially the tear break-up pattern, tear film oriented diagnosis and tear film oriented therapy. And it was a tremendous opportunity to be able to learn directly from one of the world-renowned experts in this field, Prof. Norihiko Yokoi, in the dry eye clinic along with his team. While attending dry eye clinic, I could examine various patients with different degree and cause of dry eye disease, observe advance diagnostic testing such as tear interferometry, and procedures such as punctal plug occlusion. Besides that, Prof. Yokoi was also delighted to give explanations and answer all my questions. This observership has truly fulfilled my ultimate objective in understanding more about dry eye disease.
I was also given the chance to attend cornea clinic with Prof. Chie Sotozono, Dr. Tsutomu Inatomi, and Dr. Hideki Fukuoka. During cornea clinic, I observed many cases of ocular surface disease, including Steven-Johnson Syndrome, Ocular Cicatricial Pemphigoid, chemical or thermal burn, and corneal disease, such as keratitis and corneal ulcer due to various microorganism, CMV endothelitis, corneal dystrophy, bullous keratopathy, keratoconus, etc. Cornea clinic at KPUM was a very busy clinic which started at 9 AM and finished at 6-7 PM. However, I highly admired and respected how the staffs always spare some time for a discussion at the end of the day, and they are very pleased to answer my questions. Moreover, I also joined Cornea discussion every Monday morning which we discussed various topics, case reports, or even some clinical study posters.
Besides outpatient clinic, I also joined the Professor Grand Round at inpatient ward with Prof. Chie Sotozono and all the staffs every Wednesday morning. I also attended the OT and observed emergency surgery such as lamellar keratoplasty for perforated corneal ulcer and Mooren’s ulcer, and elective surgery related to dry eye disease including permanent punctal occlusion with novel technique and conjunctivochalasis surgery by Prof. Yokoi.
Outside of clinical activity in the hospital, fortunately I was also given the chance to attend the SJS International Meeting, February 3rd and 4th 2018, in Kyoto just after I finished my observership. Thanks to Prof. Shigeru Kinoshita and Prof. Mayumi Ueta who have made this possible for me. The meeting was truly an enrichment in terms of basic and clinical science in SJS and I was very grateful to be able to join. Not only that, Prof. Sotozono also invited me to a friendly dinner with KPUM medical students which was a wonderful time filled with hospitality and laughter.
To conclude, this observership has been a truly remarkable experience. It certainly has widened my horizon and enriched me with knowledge and skills which will undoubtedly change and improve my clinical practice.
Therefore, I would like to express my highest gratitude to Prof. Shigeru Kinoshita, Prof. Chie Sotozono, Prof. Norihiko Yokoi, and all the staffs at KPUM for their warm hospitality, also knowledge and skills they have taught me. I believe what I learned at KPUM, not only helped me to understand basic science of ocular surface, cornea, and dry eye disease, but will also help me provide a better clinical practice. Finally, I present my utmost appreciation to Asia Cornea Society to have given me all the support for this observership.
I strongly recommend this ACS Santen Educational Grant program to all aspiring cornea surgeon/specialist. Believe me, it will be a remarkable experience in many aspects!