Services Offered

External Ocular Examination

Biomicroscopy (Slit lamp microscopy) with photo and video options, Corneal, Conjunctival and Tear Film Qualitative and Quantitative Tests with Vital Staining

Optic Nerve and Glaucoma Screening and Monitoring

Schoitz Indentation and / or Goldmann applanation Tonometry, Gonioscopy, Perimetry (Octopus 101)

Refraction

Retinoscopy, Biometry, Keratometry and Lensometry

Posterior Segment Evaluation

Direct and Indirect Ophthalmoscopy

Argon Laser

Surgeries for Retinal Disease and Glaucoma

Subspecialty Clinics

  • Comprehensive Ophthalmology
  • Cornea and External Eye, Contact Lens
  • Cataract and Refractive Surgery
  • Glaucoma
  • Retina and Vitreous
  • Orbit / Oculoplasty
  • Neuro-ophthalmology

Surgeries

Extracapsular Cataract Extraction with Intra-Ocular Lens Implantation, Corneal Transplantation, Plastic and Lacrimal, Glaucoma, Retinal and Refractive Surgery

Facilities

Out-Patient Department

Located at the Ground Floor of the New Hospital Building. It caters to out-patients of the hospital as well as referral from other departments. This is where history and physical examinations are done by the Clinical Clerks and diagnostic exams and treatments by the Resident Physician Trainees and Consultants. It has a variety of eye instruments and equipment that are needed for precise diagnosis. It also has a room for minor surgery.

Vision and Eye Wellness (ViEW) Center

Located at the 2nd Floor of the New Hospital Building. It complements the OPD wherein difficult cases after being managed through multi-subspecialist approach. It contains slit lamp for external eye examination, Argon Laser for variety of diseases like retinal problems, e.g. Diabetic Retinopathy, Age Related Macular Degeneration, and Central Serous Retinopathy, Endolaser for retinal detachment, A-Scan Ultrasound (Biometer) to determine the power of the intraocular lens, Carl Zeiss Visucam use for fundus photo and Fluorescein Angiography of the eye, Octopus Computerized Perimetry to map central and peripheral visual field (Glaucoma), Automatic Refractor to get the spectacle power of the eye for eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Emergency Room

A room at the emergency area where we share with the ENT Department. This is where emergency cases after office hours are being seen and given immediate management and disposition.

Operating Room

Located at the second floor of New Hospital Building near the Vision and Eye Wellness (ViEW) Center. There is a room allotted to the department to treat eye cases. It houses our Leica Operating Microscope and the Oertli  Phacoemulsification Machine where Cataract, Corneal Transplant, Glaucoma, Strabismus, Orbit and Retinal Surgeries are being done.

Department Office

Located at the Medical Annex Building at the back of the Hospital. This is where we converse and have our bimonthly meeting, do our cases and research presentations, morbidity conferences and working room for the staff. It houses also our secretary, library, some equipment and records.

History

The Department of Ophthalmology was established in 1954. It gave the MCU College of Medicine the distinction of being the first medical college and hospital in the country with a separate specialty from the department of Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat.

The chairmen are as follows:

  • Dr. Ramon Ongsiako (1952)
  • Dr. Edgardo Caparas (1954)
  • Dr. Jose Molina Marin, Sr. (1960)
  • Dr. Neva P. Arribas (1966)
  • Dr. Mario V. Aquino (1970)
  • Dr. Jose T.D. Mayo III (1980)
  • Dr. Victorino D. Perlas, Jr. (1988)
  • Dr. Ferdinand Francis Cid (1990)
  • Dr. Raul Cruz (1994)
  • Dr. Romulo Aguilar (1996)
  • Dr. Crisostomo T. Malabanan (1998)
  • Dr. Jose David Marin, Jr. (2002)
  • Dr. Crisostomo T. Malabanan, Jr. (2007)
  • Dr. Maya Fe N. Darjuan (2011)
  • Dr. Victorino D. Perlas, Jr. ( Present)

The Accreditation Committee of the Philippine Board of Ophthalmology (PBO) has visited the department and has accredited it up to present.  There are nine graduates of its residency training program that have become diplomates and four underwent subspecialty training in Uveitis, Glaucoma, and Oculoplasty.

In 2000, Dr. Jose David Marin, Jr. came up with four Post Graduate Courses with the 50th Golden Anniversary falling on the fourth celebration. There was also an integration of the curriculum of the College of Optometry to the Eye Department.

The Vision and Eye Wellness (ViEW) Center was inaugurated during Dr. Maya Fe Darjuan’s term. Mock written and Oral Examination was done annually by the RPT in preparation for the Diplomate Board Exam. A Lay Forum for Sight Saving Month of August 2013 was organized and presented at the MCU Tanchoco Auditorium entitled “Bigyan Pansin: Kalusugan ng Mata at Paningin .” Dr. Theresa B. Urriquia, a Resident Physician Trainee at that time, won 1st place in the Clinical Research Contest at the 2013 PAO Annual Convention.

In 2014, Dr. Victorino D. Perlas, Jr. assumed the Chairmanship of the Department. More activities such as monthly subspecialty lectures for resident trainees and faculty members, Bi-Annual Morbidity Conferences, and Post Graduate Courses were implemented. Faculty members and RPTs improved and won various awards. Dr. Urriquia and Dr. Minnette A. Panganiban became Diplomates by passing the written and oral exam given by the Philippine Board of Ophthalmology on 2014 and 2016 respectively.

In 2016, Dr. Angel A. Ancheta, a Pediatric Ophthalmologist joined the staff and enhanced the department capabilities with his specialty. Several Research Paper Contest awards were received by the department. Among these are:

  • Minnette A. Panganiban, 2nd place in the Inter Hospital Research Paper Contest and Most Outstanding Resident (2015)
  • Sarie Marcial Paper, Best Poster in Research (2015)
  • Michael Hubert Go, Best Poster in Case Paper Presentation (2016)
  • Dr Erwin Palisoc , a Neuro-Ophthalmologist faculty, presented two Research Papers in 2015 and 2016 during the 68th and 69th Anniversary Foundation MCU-FDTMF respectively

Dr. Perlas maintained the department’s active participation in the yearly celebration of Sight Saving Month and spearheaded other activities. Among these are:

  • Free Diabetic and Hypertensive Retinopathy Screening
  • Free Retinopathy of Prematurity Screening
  • Free Cataract Consultations  and Operations
  • Outreach Mission with the MCU College of Optometry at Sacred Heart Parish , Caloocan City (2015)
  • Walk for Sight and Wreath Laying Ceremonies at Rizal Park (a project of PAO and DOH)
  • 5th Postgraduate Course together with the Neuro-Ophthalmological Society of the Philippines (NOSP) entitled “Beyond The Eyes Can See: Clues in Detecting Neuro-Ophthalmological Cases” attended by doctors nationwide. A news item was published at Focal Point, the official society newsletter.
  • Team Building Activities at Tagaytay Highlands (2014) and Timberland Resort (2015)
  • Chaired the Opening Ceremonies and Scientific Session of the 69th anniversary Foundation of MCU-FDTMF
  • Facilitated the Externship Rotation of the students of the College of Optometry at the OPD

As the Department curriculum shifted to Outcome Based Education, Dr. Perlas currently works on his future plans for the department, aside from making sure that the activities and training of the RPT’s are being implemented.  He is looking for another  Post Graduate Course, regular Accreditation of the Department from the PBO for three years,  relevant journal subscriptions for department research references, student manual for 3rd  year medical students, clinical clerks and senior interns, increase in the number of faculty members for other subspecialties,  procurement of instruments and equipment to be used by our junior interns and tie-ups with international organizations for faculty and RPT’s training and development.