My ophthalmologist, like most here, perhaps all, is also an optician. Although there are many opticians in town, the ophthalmologist takes care of making, or at least having made, and fitting glasses to our eyesight. This ophthalmologist operated on my cataracts at the hospital next door, then found the right glasses for me and delivered them to me. It’s very convenient because I don’t have to go to different shops.

As you can see from the photos, his surgery isn’t very modern, but he’s an ophthalmologist I really trust. He seems competent and, in any case, everything went well: the operation and the very quick delivery of the glasses.

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This has nothing to do with anything, but there is an interesting detail about this little optician’s. As you know, if you have taken even a slight interest in Thai life, there was a major event this autumn: Queen Sirikit of Thailand died on 24 October 2025, at the age of 93. Her death was announced by the Royal Household and triggered a year-long period of national mourning in Thailand.

She was the wife of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), the father of the current king. King Rama IX died in 2016. He was adored by the Thai people, as was Queen SiriKit. And although the current King Rama X is obviously respected by the Thai people, he does not enjoy the same adoration from his people, for various reasons that I will not discuss here.
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In public places, portraits of the current king and queen can be found everywhere. But here, above the ophthalmologist’s office, as you can see, the portraits of King Rama IX and Queen Sirikit are still on display. It is the same in many Thai homes. The portraits have not been replaced.