The University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (UP-PGH DOVS) is envisioned to be a globally competitive, socially responsible, community-oriented and sustainable world-class center committed to excellence in eye care, the prevention of blindness, as well as leadership in ophthalmology in Asia.
ADMINISTRATION
Chair: Teresita R. Castillo, MD, MHPEd
Executive Officer / Fiscal Officer: Mary Rose Pe-Yan, MD
Assistant for Special Projects: Alvina Pauline D. Santiago, MD
Vice Chair for Postgraduate Training and Education: Alexander D. Tan, MD
Vice Chair for Undergraduate Training and Education: Felice Katrina T. Ranche, MD
Vice Chair for Research: Nilo Vincent DG Florcruz III, MD
Vice Chair for Service: Maria Florentina F. Gomez, MD
Residents’ Training Officer: Cesar A. Perez Jr., MD
Fellows’ Training Officer: Rainier Victor A. Covar, MD
Vision
The Sentro Oftalmologico Jose Rizal is envisioned to be a globally competitive, socially responsible, community-oriented and sustainable world-class center committed to excellence in eye care, the prevention of blindness, as well as leadership in ophthalmology in Asia.
Mission
The Sentro Oftalmologico Jose Rizal is committed to enhancing the holistic education of ophthalmologists, medical students, nurses, and allied professionals in quality eye health care; ensuring the sustainability of services in the promotion of eye health care, advancing knowledge, skills, and technology in ophthalmology through teaching and research, establishing linkages with eye institutions, local and international.
The department established its roots as a part of the PGH Department of Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat (EENT) founded in 1911. In 1961, the UP Board of Regents approved the creation of the Department of Ophthalmology, with Dr. Geminiano de Ocampo serving as its head. Over the years, the department was led by the most outstanding ophthalmologists in their respective eras.
A fully equipped eye center was built in 2000 aided by a grant from the Spanish government through the Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional, in collaboration with the UP-PGH, the Department of Health, the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology and other stakeholders in ophthalmic health. This institution is what we now know as the Sentro Oftalmologico Jose Rizal (SOJR) – the current home of the UP-PGH DOVS, the Eye Instrument Center, the Sta. Lucia Eye Bank of Manila, and the Philippine Eye Research Institute.
TRAINING
The department offers a three-year residency program that graduates eight residents every year. As a premiere training institution, it also offers fellowships in Cornea & External Disease, Vitreo-Retina, Glaucoma, Oculoplastics and Orbit, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, and Neuro-Ophthalmology. Its graduates, spread around the country and in the world, are testaments of the excellence embodied by this institution.
POST GRADUATE COURSES
The UP-PGH DOVS is dedicated to helping burgeoning ophthalmologists-in-training expand their knowledge and hone their skills in the numerous subspecialties of the field. In partnership with the Ophthalmology Residents’ Alumni Association, the department hosts four major annual post-graduate courses, namely, the Basic Course in Phacoemulsification, Basic Course in Clinical Diagnostics and Instrumentation, Basic Course in Ocular Disease, and Basic Course in Ophthalmology. The Philippine Board Ophthalmology has declared the Basic Course in Ophthalmology as a prerequisite for the diplomate examination. All of the aforementioned courses are well attended by both aspiring and practicing ophthalmologists from all over the country.
SERVICES OFFERED
1. Outpatient Department
- General Clinic
- Subspecialty Clinics for each Division
2. Eye Instrument Center
- Biometry (Optical, Contact)
- Ocular B-Scan
- Macular OCT
- Optic nerve head OCT
- OCT Angiography
- Indocyanine Green Angiography
- Static Perimetry (Humphrey, Octopus)
- Retinal Camera (Fundus Photo, Disc Photo)
- Corneal Topography
- Pentacam
- Ultrasound biomicroscopy
- Argon laser
- YAG laser
- Diode laser
- Laser indirect ophthalmoscopy
3. Operating Room
- 4 rooms for GA and LA cases
- 1 minor operating room
- 6 beds for post-anesthesia care
- Phacoemulsification machines
- Posterior vitrectomy machines
- Crosslinking machine
- Cryotherapy machine
4. Inpatient Ward
5. Sta. Lucia Eye Bank
6. Philippine Eye Research Institute
OFFICERS
| Name |
Position |
Email |
| Marissa N. Valbuena, MD, MHPEd |
Department Chair
Professor 11
|
mnvalbuena@up.edu.ph |
| Raul D. Cruz. MD |
Executive Officer Vice Chair for Services
Associate Professor 7
|
rdcruz1@up.edu.ph |
| Teresita R. Castillo, MD, MHPEd |
Vice-Chair for Research
Professor 7
|
trcastillo@up.edu.ph |
| Mary Rose L. Pe-Yan, MD |
Vice-Chair for Post graduate Training
Associate Professor 7
|
mlpeyan@up.edu.ph |
| Felice Katrina T. Ranche, MD |
Vice-Chair for Undergraduate Training and Graduate Programs
Clinical Associate Professor
|
ftranche@up.edu.ph |
| Norman M. Aquino, MD |
Residency Training Officer
Associate Professor 3 (Substitute)
|
nmaquino@up.edu.ph |
| Nilo Vincent D.G. Florcruz, MD |
Fellowship Training Coordinator
Associate Professor 3 (Substitute)
|
ndflorcruz@up.edu.ph |
SERVICES CHIEFS
| Name |
Position |
Email |
| Richard C. Kho, MD |
Cataract Division
Associate Professor 6
|
rckho@up.edu.ph |
| Romeo C. Dela Cruz, MD |
Contact Lens, Low Vision and Visual Rehabilitation, Optics and Refraction
Clinical Associate Professor
|
eyedocromy@yahoo.com |
| Ruben Lim Bon Siong, MD |
Cornea and External Disease
Associate Professor 3
|
rnlimbonsiong@up.edu.ph |
| Norman M. Aquino, MD |
Glaucoma Division
Associate Professor 3 (Substitute)
|
nmaquino@up.edu.ph |
| Raul D. Cruz. MD |
Neuro-Ophthalmology
Associate Professor 7
|
rdcruz1@up.edu.ph |
| Rolando Enrique D. Domingo, MD |
Ophthalmic-Pathology and Oncology
Professor 3
|
rddomingo2@up.edu.ph |
| Mary Rose L. Pe-Yan, MD |
Orbit Division
Associate Professor 7
|
mlpeyan@up.edu.ph |
| Alvina Pauline D. Santiago, MD |
Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
Clinical Associate Professor
|
adsantiago1@up.edu.ph |
| Alexander D. Tan, MD |
Plastic Lacrimal Division
Clinical Associate Professor
|
adtan2@up.edu.ph |
| Teresita R. Castillo, MD, MHPEd |
Uveitis Division
Professor 7
|
trcastillo@up.edu.ph |
| Romulo N. Aguilar, MD |
Vitreo-Retina Division
Professor 2
|
rnaguilar@up.edu.ph |
FACULTY MEMBERS
| Name |
Email |
| Cheryl Myla A. Arcinue, MD |
cheyarcinue@gmail.com |
| Paulita Pamela P. Astudillo, MD |
tsangpam@gmail.com |
| Kristine Margaret E. Bacsal-Flores, MD |
kebacsalflores@up.edu.ph |
| Noel S. Cariño, MD |
nscarino@up.edu.ph |
| Rainier Victor A. Covar, MD |
racovar@up.edu.ph |
| Franz Marie O. Cruz, MD |
focruz@up.edu.ph |
| Leo D.P. Cubillan, MD |
ldcubillan@up.edu.ph |
| Fabian Arnel A. De Jesus, MD |
fadejesus@up.edu.ph |
| Aldous M. De Leon, MD |
amdeleon1@up.edu.ph |
| Ivo John S. Dualan, MD |
isdualan@up.edu.ph |
| Gregory Francis Anthony G. Germar, MD |
gagermar@up.edu.ph |
| John Kenneth D. Lagunzad, MD |
kenlagunzad@yahoo.com |
| James Abraham B. Lee, MD |
jblee@up.edu.ph |
| Michelle D. Lingao, MD |
mdlingao1@up.edu.ph |
| Gary John V. Mercado, MD |
gdmercado2@up.edu.ph |
| Andrea Kristina F. Monzon-Pajarillo, MD |
ampajarillo@up.edu.ph |
| Richard L. Nepomuceno, MD |
rlnepomuceno1@up.edu.ph |
| Ma. Dominga B. Padilla, MD |
minguita@gmail.com |
| Paulo Maria N. Pagkatipunan, MD |
pmpagkatipunan@up.edu.ph |
| Junn R. Pajarillo, MD |
junnpajarillo@yahoo.com |
| Cesar A. Perez, MD |
doc.cesarperez@gmail.com |
| Raquel M. Joaquin-Quino, MD |
rmjoaquinquino@up.edu.ph |
| Karen B. Reyes, MD |
kurr_b_reyes@yahoo.com |
| Darby E. Santiago, MD |
desantiago@up.edu.ph |
| Edmin Michael G. Santos, MD |
egsantos1@up.edu.ph |
| Armida L. Suller, MD |
mingsuller@gmail.com |
| Alnette L. Tan, MD |
altan5@up.edu.ph |
| Roland Joseph D. Tan, MD |
olantan385e@yahoo.com |
| Harvey S. Uy, MD |
hsuy1@up.edu.ph |
| Ma. Imelda R. Yap-Veloso, MD |
mryapveloso@up.edu.ph |
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
| Name |
Position |
Email |
| Dr. Corrina P. Azarcon |
Chief Resident |
cpazarcon@up.edu.ph |
| Marites G. Bicol |
Administrative Officer II |
mgbicol@up.edu.ph |
| Vanessa Jane Masangkay |
Administrative Aide VI |
vmgonzales1@up.edu.ph |
| Jomari N. Magdael |
Office Assistant – JO |
jnmagdael@up.edu.ph |
The Outpatient Department houses a General Clinic that sees more than 20,000 cases every year. Its subspecialty clinics – Cataract, Cornea & External Disease, Vitreo-Retina, Glaucoma, Oculoplastics and Orbit, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Uveitis, Contact Lens and Refractive, Low Vision, and Ocular Oncology – sees a total of 40,000 consults from all over the country annually.
The SOJR houses its own Operating Room Complex with 4 major operating rooms, 1 minor operating room and 1 dedicated post-anesthesia care unit. Each room is equipped with an operating microscope and a phaco-vitrectomy machine. The OR suite caters to more than 5,000 cases every year.
The Eye Instrumentation Center (EIC) offers a wide array of ophthalmic diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, which include: ocular ultrasound, ultrasound biomicroscopy, biometry, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, automated perimetry, corneal topography, and pachymetry. The EIC also houses the 532 nm Argon laser machine and the Nd:YAG laser machine which delivers minimally invasive laser treatment for various ophthalmologic indications.
From common eye problems to rare sight-threatening diseases, the Sentro Oftalmologico Jose Rizal houses different services catered to the patients and provides general eye care and comprehensive ophthalmic specialty services that attract patients throughout Manila metropolitan area, across the country and around the world.
The Outpatient Department of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences houses a General Clinic and a complete set of ophthalmologic subspecialty clinics scheduled regularly across the week, namely Medical Retina, Surgical Retina, Glaucoma, Uveitis, Plastic-Lacrimal, Orbit, Neuro-Ophthalmology, External Disease and Cornea, Low Vision, Dry Eye, Contact Lens, Refraction and Ocular Oncology/Retinoblastoma.
The Operating Room Complex of the SOJR is situated in the entire fourth floor of the building. It consists of 4 major operating rooms, 1 minor operating room and 1 dedicated post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Each room is equipped with an operating microscope and a phacoemulsification machine.
The Eye Instrumentation Center (EIC) houses the various equipment of the SOJR used for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The following diagnostic services are offered at the EIC: ocular ultrasound, ultrasound biomicroscopy, biometry, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, automated perimetry, corneal topography, and pachymetry. The EIC also houses the 532 laser machine and the Yag laser machine which delivers minimally invasive laser treatment for various ophthalmologic indications.
The PGH Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences has played a prominent role in the advancement of Philippine ophthalmology in terms of research. Consultants of the department are part of the editorial board of the Philippine Journal of Ophthalmology, the official publication of the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. Franz Marie Cruz serves as the current editor in chief while the following were independent reviewers during the year 2019: Dr. Nilo Florcruz, Dr, Andrea Kristina Monzon-Pajarillo, Dr. Dominga Padilla, Dr. Cesar Perez, Dr. Mary Rose Pe-Yan, Dr. Reginald Robert Tan, and Dr. Roland Joseph Tan
Residents and fellows were able to present their studies at the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting. The following garnered awards in their respective categories during last year’s convention:
- Dr. Maria Isabel Umali - 1st, 2nd and 3rd place (Health Management Category)
- Dr. Luis Miguel Aquino - 1st place (Clinical Category)
- Dr. Ma. Jazel Verde - 2nd place (Fellows Category)
- Dr. Jose Antonio Paulino - 3rd place (Fellows Category)
- Dr. Corrina Azarcon - 3rd place (Basic Category)
Apart from the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, trainees and consultants of the department also presented their respective studies last year at other local as well as international conventions which include the 34th Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress last March 2019 in Thailand, World Congress of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus last September 2019 in France, and 10th Meeting of the Asian Neuro-Ophthalmology Society last December 2019 in the Philippines.
This year, the department was able to publish nine peer-reviewed journal articles in different local and international publications as of June 2020. These include:
- “Rebound tonometry measurements over extended-wear bandage contact lenses” by Dr. Corrina Azarcon and Dr. Romeo Dela Cruz (Contact Lens and Anterior Eye)
- “A randomized controlled trial on the effects of oxymetazoline nasal spray after dacryocystorhinostomy among adult patients” by Dr. George Sosuan, Dr. Felice Katrina Ranche, Dr. John Kenneth Lagunzad (BMC Research Notes)
- “Intraocular lens subluxation during Nd:YAG capsulotomy on an eye with primary congenital glaucoma” by Dr. Corrina Azarcon, Dr. Margarita Lat-Luna (JCRS Online Case Reports)
- “Hemophilia presenting as recurrent ocular hemorrhage” by Dr. Luis Miguel Aquino, Dr. Felice Katrina Ranche (GMS Ophthalmology Cases)
- “Gyrate atrophy-like phenotype with normal plasma ornithine and low plasma taurine” by Dr. Aubhugn Labiano, Dr. Milagros Arroyo (GMS Ophthalmology Cases)
- “Large graft tectonic penetrating keratoplasty in a case of severe aspergillus keratitis” by Dr. Albert John Bromeo, Dr. Ella Aquino-Alegre, Dr. Ruben Lim Bon Siong (GMS Ophthalmology Cases)
- “Prolonged central nervous system and respiratory depression in preterm neonates after exposure to brimonidine tartrate and timolol maleate ophthalmic drops” by Dr. Corrina Azarcon, Dr. Darby Santiago (GMS Ophthalmology Cases)
- “Rate of Progression of Visual Field Loss in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Versus Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma Patients Managed in a Tertiary Hospital” by Dr. Jesa Nadine Protasio, Dr. Nilo Vincent Florcruz (Philippine Journal of Ophthalmology)
- “Methotrexate for Sympathetic Ophthalmia: A Report of 3 Cases” by Dr. Corrina Azarcon, Dr. Franz Marie Cruz, Dr. Teresita Castillo, Dr. Cheryl Arcinue (Philippine Journal of Ophthalmology)
As part of their research requirement, current trainees of the department are expected to submit and present their literature reviews and study protocols (for first year residents), case reports (for second year residents), and final research outputs (for third year residents and fellows). Dr. Teresita Castillo, Vice Chair for Research, regularly monitors their progress in their respective studies.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Examination Committee wishes to announce that the Annual Ophthalmology Residents Proficiency Examination (OPEX) originally scheduled on July 11, 2020, will be postponed indefinitely.
Over the past decade, the PGH Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences has been serving nearly 70,000 outpatients every year. Our specialty, Ophthalmology, evidently caters mostly to outpatients. Thus, with the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine and temporary suspension of services offered by the PGH Department of Outpatient Services, our practice was put into a halt. In March 2020, the PGH Director ordered temporary closure of our beloved Sentro Oftalmologico Jose Rizal. Its people – doctors, nurses, and administrative staff – left their usual routines to answer the call of duty in battling COVID-19.
SERVICE
During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than half of our physician manpower rotated in other parts of PGH as COVID Ward Physicians, Triage Officers, Safety Officers, and Command Center Call Agents. Our nursing staff were deployed to COVID and Non-COVID wards all over PGH. Our administrative staff were sent to the Property and Supplies Division to assist in packing of Personal Protective Equipment. Three residents remained on duty every day to see emergency cases and inpatient referrals of patients with urgent eye conditions. Health care workers with eye concerns were immediately seen. Furthermore, as an effort to continue our service delivery for our outpatients, we established our Tele-Ophthalmology program. More than 100 patients have reached out to us through our FaceBook page.
TRAINING
Our training program suffered a blow from the lack of outpatient exposure during this pandemic. To ensure that all graduates still receive quality clinical and surgical training, the Department has decided to extend the residency and fellowship training program by one year. In addition, the Department has started conducting rounds and conferences through online platforms. All trainees are also required to attend online lectures hosted by the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology.
RESEARCH
Given that this pandemic can also be an opportunity for new discoveries, our residents and fellows were encouraged to engage in COVID-related research. To date, three research protocols have been submitted to the UP Manila Research Ethics Board for review and approval.