Dr. Yuniar Sarah Ningtiyas
Undaan Eye Hospital, Indonesia
Indonesia
It was an immense privilege to receive the ACS – Santen Educational Grant to support my clinical observership at the New Zealand National Eye Center (NZ-NEC) in Auckland. My observership lasted four weeks, yet the lessons and impacts will undoubtedly stay with me longer.
During this observership, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of the cornea in both outpatient clinics and operating theatre settings. In the clinics, I saw the broad spectrum of corneal pathologies: corneal ulcers, keratoconus, bullous keratopathy, herpes keratitis, and post-transplant patients, including one whose graft was still thriving 20 years later. Keratoconus stood out as a common presentation in New Zealand. I was also particularly impressed by the contact lens clinic, where skilled optometrists fitted patients with keratoconus and post-penetrating injury with tailored lenses that transform bothsight and the patient’s daily life. In Indonesia, ophthalmologists have the ultimate responsibility to detect, treat, and manage keratoconus patients because we do not have optometry in our healthcare structure. So, seeing the dynamic of this collaborative approach has been enriching.
In the operating theatre, I observed a rich variety of corneal surgeries: repeat penetrating keratoplasty, PK combined with cataract extraction, and deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK). How the consultants discussed pre-operative planning and post-operative management thoroughly with fellow and registrar has been insightful. Towards the end of my observership period, I also had the privilege to witness Prof. Ghee expertly and gracefully guide a fellow through an entire transplant procedure. It reminded me once again how a dedicated mentor can make a real difference in a surgeon’s journey. In addition to that, Dr. Mo Ziaei was especially generous in showing me other facets of corneal services, including refractive procedures such as PRK and LASIK.
Aside from the technical expertise, being in New Zealand is a beautiful reminder that in healthcare, wherever we are in the world, we share the same language: compassion, openness, and genuine care for our patients.
My heartfelt thanks go to the cornea consultants: Prof Charles McGhee, Dr. Sue Ormonde, Dr. David Pendergrast, Dr. Chi-Ying Chou, Dr. Alexandra Crawford, and Dr. Mo Ziaei for their time, expertise, and generosity in teaching. I am also thankful to Natasha Wessels for the tremendous administrative support.
I highly recommend the ACS Santen Educational Grant program to every aspiring corneal surgeon or specialist. It is an experience that will enrich you in countless ways!