Dr Yulia AZIZA

Ophthalmologist,

Kirana Eye Centre,

Ciptomangunkusumo hospital/University of Indonesia, Jakarta

Although I had only a short stay, it was a very fruitful experience.

It is a great opportunity for having a chance to join the ACS – Santen Observership Program at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. This institution is well known with the very latest ocular surface management update that attracted a lot of publications in top international journals. As a young ophthalmologist, I am very pleased to learn everything from this institution.

During my observership, I joined the cornea clinic, dry eye clinic, contact lens clinic, and even had the chance to join the uveitis clinic. I found different patterns of cases compared to my country that are usually uncommon, such as some types of corneal dystrophies, acanthamoeba corneal infection, ocular sarcoidosis and ocular lymphoma. I learned the advance management of Steven Johnson syndrome, ocular cycatrical pemphigoid that we had never done in my institution. But unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to see the live COMET surgery, however Prof Sotozono was kind enough to allow me copy some of the surgery videos.

The dry eye clinic showed me the very specific management of dry eye. Dr. Yokoi taught me how to diagnose the type of dry eye based on fluorescein staining pattern (dynamic pre corneal tear film). He also introduced me with conjunctivalchalasis and its medical and surgical management. I also saw modified Fasanella servat technique that was done by the anterior segment surgeon, not by the usual oculoplastic surgeon, and it was very simple.

There were various types of anterior segment surgeries that I joined such as penetrating keratoplasty, DSAEK, lamellar keratoplasty, post repair corneal rupture, and pterygium surgery with variable technical approaches at the University Hospital and Baptist Eye Institute. Not to mention also that during daily and weekly discussion, we discussed a lot of cases and compared the managements with common managements in my hospital.

So even though I had only a short stay, it was a very fruitful experience. I cannot thank you enough. My deepest gratitude to Professor Kinoshita, Professor Sotozono, dr. Yokoi, dr. Inatomi, dr. Nagata, dr. Kitazawa, dr. Nakamura, and all staff members and residents. I am very enthusiastic to apply what I have learned and hope that I can have another opportunity to further deepen my knowledge.