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School Of Medicine
Clinical Medicine
Department of Ophthalmology
Introduction
Since our department was established some 50 years ago, the Chair of the department has been succeeded by three professors; the late Professor Kotaro Shimizu (former Fukushima Women's Medical College), the late Professor Emeritus Mutuo Kajiura and Professor Keiichiro Kato.
Research themes in the department comprehensively cover the ophthalmological field, e.g. visual function, refraction, amblyopia and strabismus, pediatric ophthalmology, ocular plastic surgery, glaucoma, retinal and vitreous diseases. The current members of the department (as of April 2001) are 47 people including the doctors stationed in affiliated hospitals and the total number of the department members including alumni will add up to 120. Affiliated hospitals are located mainly in the Fukushima prefecture but are widely distributed throughout the neighboring regions, and the past and present members of the department are actively contributing to community health.
Research
Research activities within the department include studies on correction of refraction after cataract surgery and aniseikonia, the epidemiology of cataracts, correction methods and management of contact lenses, clinical studies of VDT related disorders, and analysis of accommodation functions conducted by Professor Kato's group and clinical studies on etiology and treatment of amblyopia and strabismus, studies on oculoplastic surgery by a group lead by the Associate Professor, as well as searching novel treatment methods, including studies on vitreous surgery due to diabetes and retinal detachment.
As there is no system of optometrist in Japan, examination for visual function is entirely put into the ophthalmologists' hands. Our department is taking a progressive approach towards education and research in the field and receiving nationwide recognition.
Education
1) Undergraduate Curricula within School of Medicine
  Ophthalmology has great significance in clinical medicine in relation to other clinical fields. In particular, findings in visual acuity, the visual field and ocular movements will provide useful signs of the pathological state of the brain and neurological diseases, whereas fundus examination will provide important information about the systemic state of pathology such as diabetes, renal diseases and hypertension. A systematic lecture series on ophthalmology will teach essential knowledge in general ophthalmology and specific subjects, including methods in ophthalmic examination, which will provide the knowledge required understanding the pathological relationship between eye and whole body.
2) Postgraduate Education, Training, Contribution to the Society
 
_ Initial Training Program: The Department offers a 2-year Initial Training Program for postgraduates who wish to become ophthalmologists. Significant features of the Program are; the trainee will receive an education in affiliated hospitals as well as in the University Hospital. The program includes training sessions in internal medicine and the accident and emergency department. After 2 years of training, the trainee's achievements will be evaluated and a further training program will be discussed.
_ Training for young doctors: After completing the Initial Training Program, a further 3 years training will provide the requirements for eligibility for the certificate examination in order to become a Certified Specialist, approved by the Japanese Ophthalmological Society. During the training, the trainee will learn diagnostic and treatment methodology under the guidance of specialist ophthalmologists at affiliated hospitals and the University Hospital. Ophthalmic surgeries are, in most cases, carried out under a surgical microscope. In order to become familiar with the specialist instruments, training using such instruments will start in the early stage of training. The training system is designed to complete the learning process of the cataract surgery in 4-5 years.
_ Contribution to the society: Modern society offers an enormous amount of visual information, therefore high quality visual functions are desired. Considering the social background, ophthalmology is still in its developing stages but is growing rapidly expanding in its field but the current number of ophthalmologists is still not adequate enough to fulfill their tasks in the society.
Publications
Kato K Accommodation Function and its Clinical Evaluation. J Jpn Ophthalmol So 1994; 12: 1238-1255.
Yago K Orbital Development after Enucleation without Orbital Implant. J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc 2001; 6: 374-378.
Kajita M Devolution of Refraction with Aging. Atarashii Ganka 2001; 10: 1233-1237.
Hashimoto T A Clinical Study of Accommodative Function in Children with Accommodative Esotropia. Folia Ophthalmol Jpn 1993;11:1377-1384.
Furuta M Measurement of Orbital Volume by Computed Tomography -Especially on the Growth of Orbit-. J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc 2000; 10: 724-730.
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