Overcoming Challenges in the Delivery of Care: The Thailand Story

Abstract

The perspective in ocular oncology varies worldwide in terms of epidemiology, ethnicity, disease severity, socioeconomic status, treatment modalities, and treatment outcomes. These lead to challenges in the delivery of care in ocular oncology patients globally, especially in developing countries. To overcome these challenges, the understanding of ocular oncology perspectives in each country is mandatory in order to utilize available local resources, and develop strategies to maximize the treatment outcomes for the patients. The field of ocular oncology has been developed enormously over the past decades. The goal of management in ocular oncology patients in order of importance is saving patients’ lives, globe, and vision. In the past, the majority of patients with malignant intraocular tumors were treated with enucleation. At present, globe preservation and even visual preservation can be achieved with recent advances in treatment modalities. This chapter will focus on our experiences in the delivery of care of patients with intraocular tumors in Thailand, and our unique challenges in the region that have been encountered and overcome.