title: Ophthalmic plastic and orbital surgery in Taiwan.
abstract: We describe in this paper the current status of ophthalmic plastic and orbital surgery in Taiwan. Data were collected from the Bureau of National Health Insurance of Taiwan, the Bulletin of the Taiwan Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Society, and the Statistics Yearbook of Practicing Physicians and Health Care Organizations in Taiwan by the Taiwan Medical Association. We ascertained that 94 ophthalmologists were oculoplastic surgeons and accounted for 5.8% of 1621 ophthalmologists in Taiwan. They had their fellowship training abroad (most ophthalmologists trained in the United States of America) or in Taiwan. All ophthalmologists were well trained and capable of performing major oculoplastic surgeries. The payment rates by our National Health Insurance for oculoplastic and orbital surgeries are relatively low, compared to Medicare payments in the United States. Ophthalmologists should promote the concept that oculoplastic surgeons specialize in periorbital plastic and aesthetic surgeries. However, general ophthalmologists should receive more educational courses on oculoplastic and cosmetic surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chi-Hsin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: I-Chan
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yun-Dun
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: wmhsu@tmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Wen-Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009915:Orbit / Q000601:surgery*; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: Taiwan; manpower; operation fee; ophthalmic plastic surgery; orbital surgery