King Willem-Alexander has appointed Dr. Dion Paridaens as an officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau. Deputy Mayor Ronald Buijt presented the ophthalmologist with the royal award on Friday 13 September during the gala dinner of the European Association for Ophthalmological Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Laurenskerk.
Paridaens (1963) received the award for his important contribution to the improvement of specialized eye surgery and the training of new ophthalmologists. He has worked at the Rotterdam Eye Hospital since 1996 and partly also at the Erasmus Medical Center.
Paridaens has been treating highly complex cases for many years as a specialist in orbit (orbital) and ophthalmic surgery (abnormalities of the eyelids and socket). He combined the knowledge he gained with new methods to improve patient care. He also founded the Oculoplastic & Orbital Fellowship Program in 2002. Tens of ophthalmologists from home and abroad have now followed this program. And since 2020, Paridaens has been developing and implementing training programs, mentoring doctors in training to become specialists, and ensuring high-level education and clinical training.
Scientific research
Paridaens has more than 200 scientific publications to his name. That’s a huge number for a non-academic ophthalmologist. There is no funding for the research, and he has been doing it largely in his spare time. He has also authored several textbooks on oculoplastic surgery and is a sought-after speaker at conferences and symposia.
Socially included
Paridaens is also involved in several (international) scientific associations. For example, he is the founder of the Thyroid Center Rotterdam, the chairman of The European Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (ESOPRS), a member of the advisory board of the International Orbital Society and vice-chairman of the Dutch Orbital Society working group.