Wrapping Up 2020: “Explanation and Understanding” — Eye Care in the Takatori Shopping Street

We finished the last day of care in 2020, which turned out to be the day with the most patients since the clinic opened.

For each person who visits,

I examine while thinking about what would be the best approach to make them happy overall.

In addition to the image results shown on the monitor in front of us,

we can now also use a 12.9-inch iPad, which makes explanations even easier.

We value helping you understand well the state inside your own eyes.

We explain until each person understands.

Because of that, the wait can sometimes become long.

Next year, we will work to make the system even more efficient.

“What did the eye doctor say?”

It can be hard to tell your family about your eyes at home.

Without images, it is hard to picture.

Please feel free to come in just to have things explained to your family.

If there is anything you want to ask after you get home, please make a note of it.

We will answer at your next visit.

A great many people now send in the “medical questionnaire form” as well.

It is good that you can take your time filling it in from a smartphone, tablet, or PC.

I entered medical school in Nagasaki to become a children’s doctor, but by graduation I was aiming to be an eye doctor, and I even went all the way to the United States, where for some reason the thing I enjoyed studying most was immunology🧪

It is strange that, now, I am involved with so many children.

Every day I care for people’s eyes, from babies to the elderly:

Thanks to the help of many people, we have come to the present environment.

I am very grateful to be able to practice.

Fujisaki, Takatori, and Nishijin area: exchanges with local people

Spanning the two stations of Nishijin and Fujisaki, a lively shopping street has formed.

“Sazae-san Street Shopping Street”:

Takatori Shopping Street, Fujisaki-dori Shopping Street, Nishijin Chuo Shopping Street, Nakanishi Shopping Street, and Nishijin Orange-dori Shopping Street

After walking the whole length once, more people have started to say hello.

Along with the enjoyable “Takatori Shopping Street Saturday Night Market,”

all the shopping street events were canceled this year.

Right now, we are moving ahead with discussions about revitalizing the shopping street in a different form.

There are many times I am glad that I kept playing the piano.

Eye care without surgery

With a small staff, we are able to provide high-quality care.

Reception and care use Mac and other IT to the fullest in our system.

We fully grasp the state of your eyes and tell you the appropriate response.

○ Many children visit: pediatric ophthalmology

Amblyopia, strabismus, myopia control (prevention)

Several full-time certified orthoptists work hard testing children’s eyes every day.

Proper glasses fitting, low-dose atropine eye drops, orthokeratology, and more:

our role is to support the healthy growth of children’s precious eyes.

○ Glaucoma

It is often found in people with no symptoms (that is, preventive medicine in ophthalmology).

Besides the eye doctor noticing, the development of medical equipment compared with the past is a big factor.

So that it does not lead to excessive worry, I explain the current state and the outlook.

This year we started laser treatment for glaucoma (selective laser trabeculoplasty; SLT), and we are beginning to confirm its effectiveness.

○ Digital eye strain and IT-related eye problems

Accommodation analyzer (Accommoref):

care in which the state of eye strain is shown in a graph.

We discuss eye drops and other measures.

○ Uveitis, iritis, scleritis, keratitis, dry eye

This is a field where I use my knowledge of immunology to the fullest.

I talk regularly with the doctors of the Kyushu University uveitis clinic.

○ Eye lasers

Besides glaucoma (SLT),

we handle retinal tears, diabetic retinopathy, posterior capsule opacification, retinal vein occlusion, and more as needed.

○ Retinal detachment, cataract, ptosis, tear duct disease, and more 

We judge whether surgery is needed and explain.

Exchanges of patients between Takatori and doctors who specialize in eye surgery have also increased.

Thank you, as always.

○ Stye (chalazion)

If it does not heal with eye drops and it is necessary, we incise it from the inside of the eyelid.

In children, we follow patiently over a long time, and in most cases it gets better without cutting.

○ Keratoconus

Care using a corneal topographer (corneal topography):

Keratoconus can sometimes be found in people with strong astigmatism.

If needed, we fit a special contact lens (Rose K®).

○ Moving out of the city or prefecture

Through various connections, there are more cases where we refer patients to doctors near their new home.

Thank you, doctors far away, as always.

For all other eye diseases as well, we talk with you so that we can take the best approach for the patient.

Thank you for your continued support.

Thank you.