*The Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand
10th Floor, Royal Golden Jubilee Building, 2 Soonvijai, Petchburi Road, Bangkapi, Huaykwang, Bangkok 10320 Thailand The Ophthalmological Society of Thailand and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand were founded on a very important basis.  It should be recorded so that later generations of ophthalmologists will know the sequence of events leading to this foundation:

In the year 1955, physicians practicing in the field of ophthalmology and ear nose and throat held a conference to draw up policies and regulations in order to establish a society.  This was considered the first medical specialty society in Thailand.  We the later generation of ophthalmologists are proud of the vision of the founding members.  Permission to set up a society from the Cultural Council of Thailand was granted on July 20, 1956 with Second General Prachak Vejasit as the first president.

The emblem of the Ophthalmological Society of Thailand

The Society has since engaged in many activities successfully throughout the years, and its membership continues to grow.  Its continued development and progress in the academic specialty field has allowed ophthalmologists and ear-nose-throat specialists to distinctly separate and establish their work field in terms of academics and patient care.  Therefore, two separate societies emerged, the Ear-Nose-Throat Society of Thailand and the Ophthalmological Society of Thailand.  Under the guidance of the honorable Professor Nisit Leelawongs, the original name of the society was changed to the Ophthalmological Society of Thailand.  The first president of the Society was Professor Kobchai Prommindaroj, who officially registered the society on June 22, 1978.
In the year 1990 the Thai Medical Council saw fit that each of the medical societies be established as colleges under the supervision of the Thai Medical Council.  The Ophthalmological Society of Thailand, with Professor Prachak Prachakvej as president of the Society assigned Professor Tiam Lawtiantong and Associate Professor M.R. Pornsawas Nantawan to set up a committee to draw up a constitution in order with the Thai Medical Council and with the help of the College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand in 1992.  A temporary administrative team of the College was set up to do this task until members could be officially voted as official members.  As of April 21, 1992 the establishment was given permission by the Thai Medical Council to be officially registered and this was promulgated by royal announcement.  The Society was registered as having 201 official founding members.  An election was held on November 20, 1992 to select a Society president and an administrative committee.  It was unanimously decided that the original temporary administrative team continue as the Society’s administrative committee for a term of two years.  In 1994, the original administrative committee was once again elected to oversee the Society’s workings for an additional term.
After the official establishment of the College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand, it was decided that the College should continue its work, and that such work would be under the supervision of the Thai Medical Council, the equivalent of the mother institution.  Policies were established to be purposeful in official government proceedings, especially in the areas of residency training and for Thai ophthalmology board qualification examinations.  The Ophthalmological Society of Thailand has had a proud, honorable, lengthy history, and can be considered a valuable inheritance for all ophthalmologists.  The Society serves as a legal entity and is able to carry out legal proceedings on its own, which differs from other colleges that must carry out such proceedings under the authority of the Thai Medical Council.
In the year 1994 the committee members of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand and other medical specialty colleges collaborated to establish the Consortium of Medical Specialties Training Institution of Thailand, which originally consisted of nine Royal Colleges:

Each of the Royal Colleges saw fit that Professor Arun Pausawasdi, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand, also head this Consortium.  The purpose of this consortium was based on two goals:

1. To organize various activities and organize the Annual Academic Seminar together to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Reign of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulayadej or “Kanjanapisek” in the year 1996. 
2. To oversee the construction of a permanent building facility to house each of the Royal Colleges combined under the patronage of the President of the Thai Medical Society of Thailand.  The President of the Thai Medical Society of Thailand gave authority to construct such a facility on the property belonging to the Thai Medical Society of Thailand.

In order to fulfill such goals, the His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Thailand was invited to proceed over the royal opening ceremony.  His Majesty King Bhumipol Adulayadej royally bestowed the building’s name as the “The Royal Golden Jubilee Building”.  This modern 12-story building had a construction budget of 440 million baht, and was built on 4 rai of land belonging to the Thai Medical Society of Thailand situated on Soi Soonvijai, Petchburi Road, in Bangkok.  On March 18, 1997, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, acting on behalf of His Majesty the King of Thailand, performed the Royal Opening Ceremony.
The Consortium consisted of five Royal Colleges and four Colleges, with each College having professionals with great expertise in each of the Colleges, and all with similar roles:  academic teaching responsibilities, medical service to help the sick, and medical volunteer service under the royal patronage of His Majesty the King of Thailand to give medical service in the local areas that His Majesty visits.  It was thus fitting that with gratitude and graciousness that His Majesty placed the Consortium under his royal patronage and re-designated each of the four Colleges as Royal Colleges.  As for the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand, Associate Professor M.R. Pornsawas Nantawan was assigned to oversee this.  The title of “Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand” was graciously bestowed on June 12, 1995 and for which no greater worth can be found for all ophthalmologists.
The full name in English is the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand, which is abbreviated as RCOPT as designated by the original founding committee of the Royal College.
On November 27, 1998 the committee members of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand along with the committee members of the Ophthalmological Society of Thailand convened and voted to combine the committees of both entities into one head committee to smooth operations and to eliminate discrepancies that would arise in regulations and in practice

The emblem of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand

The emblem of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand has navy-colored Thai initials centered on a circular background similar to the shape of the cornea.  The top of the emblem has the gold-colored royal crown insignia of His Majesty the King of Thailand along with the Thai number 9.  This was to commemorate the royal bestowing of the Royal College’s official title by His Majesty Bhumibol Adulayadej, King Rama the 9th.  The name of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand in Thai is written on the bottom of the emblem on a light pink background, and below this on a dark pink background the year 1995 is written in Thai numerals.
Up to the present day, the RCOPT has continue its duties under the guidance at the College’s Presidents as follow:

1.  Professor Prachak Prachakvej                                               (1995-1996)
2.  Assistant Professor Juangchan Chansue                                (1996-1998)
3.  Professor Visuthe Tansirikongkol                                           (1998-2000)
4.  Associate Professor M.R. Pornsawas Nantawan                   (2000-2001)
5.  Associate Professor Dhaivadee Dulayajinda                          (2001-2004)
6.  Associate Professor Apichart Singalavanija                            (2004-2006)
7.  Associate Professor Sudarat  Yaisawang                               (2006-2008)