Taking on the role of Chairman of the Japanese Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (JSOPRS) comes at a turning point—the first year of the new Reiwa era. Seven short years ago in 2013, this Society was founded in Nagoya as Japan’s representative organization in Ophthalmic Plastic＆Reconstructive Surgery (OPRS), a field attracting increasing global attention. This year, I am humbled to assume the serious responsibility of the chairmanship from Professor Kakizaki of Aichi Medical University, whose efforts have sustained us since the JSOPRS’s founding.

 

Ophthalmic plastic surgery is without doubt an up-and-coming domain. Increasingly more is being required of our field as the expansion of medical technology creates a rising demand for plastic surgery as well as for disease treatment. As surgical outcome impacts physical appearance in this field, an individual pleasantly surprised by surgical results is just as joyful as a well-satisfied cataract surgery patient.　In order to provide outstanding surgery, the sharing of knowledge across the boundaries of ophthalmology and plastic surgery is necessary for the future of OPSR. Dissemination of technology is therefore one of the issues we face in providing advanced surgery nationwide exceeding a set standard.

 

Since its founding, the JSOPRS has sought to generate the satisfaction of belonging to an international society for our members through activities within Japan. We have slowly expanded our presence, sponsoring numerous academic meetings in various locales each year.

 

The Society strives to be a vehicle for honing surgical techniques and sharing them along with cutting-edge information. As the JSOPRS was founded in the Age of the Internet, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that our provision of information fully exploits that potential. Discussion is also underway regarding publication of a journal to ensure that our expertise in OPRS is documented. Furthermore, we must realize and address our social role in areas such as correcting the unreasonably low scoring for ophthalmic plastic surgery in the government-based system for determining medical fees and regulations.

 

I will do my utmost to help the JSOPRS enjoy further growth and look forward to working together with all of you.

 

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