METHODS: Collect documents and historical pictures from the journal of Taiwan Ophthalmological Society and analyze exposed data from National Health Insurance of Taiwan.

RESULTS: There are 1,621 ophthalmologists with an average figure of 7.01 eye specialists per ten thousands population ( a population of 23.1 million people in Taiwan). After ophthalmic education and training of a 4-years residency program, a qualified Eye Doctor must pass a board examination, which was organized by the Taiwan Ophthalmological Society, to get a Specialist Certificate (of ophthalmology). In order to renew board certificate, one must take 200 hours continuing educational course every 6 years. There are 40 to 44 new ophthalmologists every year. About 35 % of 1,621 ophthalmologists have their fellowship training in USA or Europe (a few in Japan). About 152,000 ECCE (92% with phacoemulsification) with IOL implants (cataract surgery rate 6,339 per million people per year) and about 920 cases of penetrating keratoplasty (including 120 lamellar keratoplasty) were performed annually. There are 5 national societies related to ophthalmology. The Taiwan Ophthalmological Society (TOS) is the biggest one. TOS organized annual national congress and annual regional congress, negotiated with NHI (National Health Insurance) and published an official journal (Taiwan Journal of Ophthalmology ) quarterly with 51 years of existence. The major focus areas for biomedical research in Taiwan are: ophthalmic epidemiology, glaucoma, vitreo-retinal diseases and stem cell study. From 1995 to 2010, Taiwan ophthalmologists have published 1,532 scientific papers (468 in SCI journals, 1,064 in Non-SCI journals).

CONCLUSIONS: The manpower of ophthalmologists in Taiwan is relative surplus (7.01 per 100,000 inhabitants). Taiwan Ophthalmological Society

has provided her special contribution. The future aims of Taiwanese Ophthalmologists are: promote preventive ophthalmology, endeavor basic research and push Taiwan Journal of Ophthalmology to become a SCI journal.