History and development of ophthalmology in Taiwan.
Western medicine was first introduced to Taiwan by medical missionaries in the mid-19thcentury. Modernization of medicine was systematically transplanted to Taiwan in the Japanese colonial period, and ophthalmology was established third among hospital departments, following internal medicine and surgery. Dr Hidetaka Yamaguchi, an ophthalmologist, was the first head of the Taihoku Hospital, later known as National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH; Taipei, Taiwan). Ophthalmologists during the colonial period conducted studies on tropical and infectious eye diseases. After World War II, ophthalmologists at NTUH played an important role in medical education, residency training, studies, and teaching. Dr Yan-Fei Yang established the Taiwan Ophthalmological Society in 1960 and instituted its official journal in 1962. Dr Ho-Ming Lin established the Department of Ophthalmology at the Tri-Service General Hospital in the 1950s and the Veterans General Hospital in the 1960s. Taiwan ophthalmologists eradicated trachoma by 1971. Cataract surgery and penetrating keratoplasty were initially performed in the 1960s. Currently, there are about 1600 ophthalmologists in Taiwan conducting an estimated 120,000 cataract surgeries and 600 corneal transplantations annually. Many subspecialty societies have been established recently that serve to educate Taiwanese ophthalmologists and to connect with international ophthalmic societies. Taiwan ophthalmologists continue to contribute to the advancement of ophthalmic knowledge globally.
Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yu-Chih
YC
Hou
Kellogg Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Gale A
GA
Oren
Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Ophthalmology, Cardinal Tien Hospital, College of Medicine, Fu Jen University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Muh-Shy
MS
Chen
Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: fungronghu@ntu.edu.tw.
Fung-Rong
FR
Hu
D002387:Cataract Extraction; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000639:trends; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education* / Q000266:history* / Q000639:trends*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013624:Taiwan; D000078329:Workforce
Taiwan; evolution; history; ophthalmology